So often in healthcare, we hear that there is no time for training and education. With all of the demands on nurses' and doctors' time, it is not hard to imagine why education, especially eLearning, is not their top priority. Unfortunately, healthcare institutions are required to provide education and prove that employees are up-to-date on training and have successfully met the requirements for completion.
In my personal experience as an instructional designer working in healthcare information technology, I've found that healthcare providers have a love-hate relationship with elearning. It seems that providers with a vested interest in education, such as nurse program managers, or certified nursing educators absolutely LOVE elearning. However, the hundreds of providers who have to complete a dozen or more elearning modules each year are less fond of the delivery method. I think a major reason they don't like taking elearning is because they don't get a return on their investment. eLearning means that a provider has to step away from her patients and find a quiet place where she can focus, or more likely, quickly click through the module and hope for the best on the test.
So, how can we make elearning worthwhile for medical professionals?
Sure, sure... you're probably saying all of the standard stuff we ID's like to say! Make it more engaging! Add elements of gamification! Make it relevant! Contextualize it!
Yup, that's all true. We shouldn't take good elearning for granted, no matter the setting. However, I think there is one element that makes elearning successful in healthcare moreso than any other. That element is: scenarios.
Scenario-based elearning mimics the way that doctors and nurses learn their trade. Good scenario-based eLMs will have case studies or branching scenarios that providers can relate to, but they'll also have real life consequences. So instead of bulleted list of HIPAA violations, or a multiple-choice quiz on patient safety, put the control in the hands of your learner and let them make decision and learn from their mistakes. They will be more likely to remember the info when they get on the floor, where it counts!
Here are a couple of resources that you might want to check out!
Manage virtual patients in an online operating room with Stanford University School of Medicine's SICKO simulation game.
Check out this branching scenario eLM I created to educate hospital staff on placing patients in restraints.
A timely post Adrienne. My team and I are doing our weekly facilitation on scenario-based elearning. You have provided some great examples at the end of your post. The problem you are facing, as I understand, is the lack of time and/or interest of caregivers in undergoing training, notwithstanding the method of delivery. If elearning is not their priority, then how would you motivate them to make time for scenario-based elearning, basically another type of elearning design? Unlike a normal true or false or multiple choice quiz, scenarios take a longer time to design and takes a learner longer time to navigate too. Each time a learner chooses an answer, there are faced with other decisions-making, problem solving situation. I suppose it can be made more simple depending on learners' needs, but my question is how will be able to persuade the staff to spend more time than usual to go through a scenario-based module?
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ReplyDeleteHi Adrienne
ReplyDeleteI could not get Sicko to load but I watched the eLM. You probably wouldn't want me restraining patients! Scenario based learning allows the participant(s) to analyze the problem using prior knowledge and evaluate possible solutions. This is preferable and more engaging than taking a test.
But Shyam raises some good points - you may still have issues with busy professionals resenting taking the time. And yes, it will take longer to design. However, the benefits may far outweigh the challenges. I would design a scenario base eLearning course and then get feedback from the participants. Who knows until you try?
Adrienne, you make a good case! I am relatively new to scenario-based e-learning, but it's something we're just beginning to incorporate where I work. Unfortunately, the first project I'm using it for is product training, which has limited opportunities for true scenarios. I think we'll be able to incorporate a few, but so much of the content is really...just content.
ReplyDeleteIs there a particular flavor of scenario-based e-learning you subscribe to (I'm thinking Ruth Clark vs. Will Thalheimer, or perhaps others)?
Hi Adrienne,
ReplyDeleteThis made me think back to when I was doing some modules for medical competency training. I was converting ppt into Articulate Storyline powered 'ppt on steriod' style training with quizzes. While I could see some scenario based training interspersed in these modules - I am not sure the hospital would have appreciated the added dev time and expense that converting the very flat learning into scenario based learning might have incurred.
At the same time - I think that some branched learning would have been ideal if some of the subject areas needed to be unpacked into some more in depth training. Branched learning is very intriguing to me and I am looking forward to finding a subject area that I can use to create some for my portfolio.