Joanne Callinan: Learning from e-learning in other organisations

Joanne has a Bachelor of Science (Hon Biochemistry) from the National University of Ireland, Galway and a Masters in Library and Information Studies from University College Dublin. In 2005, she received a HRB Cochrane Research Fellowship to undertake a  systematic review with the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group. She has many years experience working as a Health Sciences Librarian as well as undertaking research in information needs, bibliotherapy and e-learning. She is currently the Librarian in Milford Care Centre and co-ordinates activities on Milford Care Centre’s e-learning website. Joanne was project officer involved in setting up and evaluating a virtual learning environment to support candidates studying the European Certificate in Essential Palliative Care (distance learning course) in Milford Care Centre. She has experience designing, developing and evaluating e-learning programmes and has a Graduate Diploma in Digital Media Development for Education from the University of Limerick. She obtained a Clinical Research Fellowship in Palliative Care from the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care to conduct research on the barriers and facilitators to using E-Learning in palliative care education in Ireland. She is one of the librarian’s involved with editing HEAR Bulletin. Her other main interests include information literacy, critical appraisal skills and open access.

Abstract

The purpose of the Education Fellowship was to visit different healthcare organisations in the UK involved in delivering e-learning courses and to observe and gather information about the processes and methods utilised to develop online programmes in those organisations. The sites Joanne visited were Hospice UK, Macmillan UK, Loros Hospice and the Royal College of General Practitioners.

In May 2015, Joanne visited Hospice UK to learn more about how they have used Moodle to deliver their courses. The CLiP programme (Current Learning in Palliative Care) gives professionals, carers and teams from a variety of health and social care settings the knowledge and skills needed in their daily work.

In October 2014, The RCGP Essential Knowledge Update and Challenge Programme won the Gold Award in the Best e-learning Project in the most competitive sector (third sector). This is no more evident than by the fact that they have a dedicated team of e-learning professionals and authors. RCGP offers a wide spectrum of E-Learning courses specifically for GPs.

As part of the presentation, Joanne will outline the following what she learnt from the visits such as:

1. Different approaches to developing e-learning courses
2. Learning about some of the software and technology used to develop online courses.
3. View examples of reflective learning as well as how e-learning can be made engaging for learners.
4. Knowledge of the course development process
5. How quality control can be ensured during course development
6. Outcomes achieved as a result of the visits