The process of developing the MOOC for HCP continues apace, but there are still issues we need to hammer out in order to see the maximum possible engagement in the event, and the greatest possible learning opportunities presented to the greatest possible number (at least, that’s where I’m coming from).
There are currently 240 000 Allied health professionals in the UK alone, and over 350 000 nurses and midwives. But the focus of the MedEdMOOC, from the naming of it onwards seems to reflect almost exclusively the narrow group that is concerned with the education of Medics. I am glad that Dean Jenkins picked up on this idea in his recent blog, and that it is reopened for discussion.
But, how did this happen? Is it that medics are ahead of other HCP groups in their use of online technology? Is it that medical educators are a particularly technologically gifted group? Is it that other HCPs dont yet have an understanding of the potential of online technology? Is it that somehow we are excluding other HCP from the development process? I’m not sure of the answers to these questions, but I think it is useful for me to frame them such that I may reflect on them throughout the process and beyond. If you have any views about this, I would love to hear them in the comments.
The topics we are planning to cover over a six week spread are based around these working titles:
Week 1. Theory- Connectivism vs constructionism
Week 2. Learning- where are we now on the social web?
Week 3. Doing- Improving healthcare delivery in a networked world
Week 4. Collaborative Models (including CPD in social spaces)
Week 5. Barriers- what are they and how can we overcome them?
Week 6. Content to be decided by participants.
Now, looking at these titles for the weeks’ content, there is nothing that is exclusive to medics- in fact, all these topics can be used by any healthcare professionals. As a MOOC is likely to contain more content than any one person wishes to engage with, it may be that there are profession specific items that appeal more to one profession than another. But it is interesting to me that event though I have been involved in the planning of the event, I am holding prejudices about the process; doubts about whether my professional skills are of value to the process; wondering why more Allied Health Professionals are not on board with the development of the MOOC.
For what it’s worth here are my thoughts.
The name MedEdMOOC is an exclusive title, implying that content to be developed must be relevant to medical practice and be concerned with the education of medical practitioners. In my view, we could re-visit this naming decision to reflect a more inclusive title.
The development team is composed largely of medics. This means every decision is taken through that filter. Decisions are unconsciously made using the frame of reference from within medicine and medical education.
I’m excited about taking advantage of the principles of the MOOC to explore connectivity, horizontal flows of information, networked learning and professional developments that include exposure to the broad range of models used in healthcare delivery. But, to do that successfully, we either need a broader range of HCP involved in the planning, or very committed participants from different disciplines, who will then generate further content.
I also believe that the event will benefit from some real life experiences that participants can choose to be a part of. Myself and two colleagues are delivering a “Social Media Surgery” at our professional conference in Glasgow during the MOOC. This will provide us with the opportunity to explore either LiveStreaming an element of the workshop, or at least utilising Skype chat facility or similar to ensure people outside the room can be included. We may also choose to deliver an additional session for the participants online (venue and organisers’ indulgence permitting!)
I am planning an event in Leeds towards the end of June. I aim to get together the community of practice surrounding the #nhssm Tweetchat and some health and social care stakeholders. I hope that this event will similarly be able to be integrated into the MOOC, perhaps as an opportunity to ask questions, perhaps to hack some solutions to challenges we have identified in the uptake of some of these technologies.
Please do engage in the debate surrounding these ideas- we know this is the first health related MOOC planned, and its success is entirely dependent on how well we can identify and meet your learning needs!
I am an Occupational Therapist, who writes about health, particularly mental health. I am interested in social media and Web 2.0, and where these technological advances can support wellness and health.
Claireot's Blog 
Just a quick comment from me today Claire.
I think I prefer the name HealthMOOC as the most inclusive of the three (but then what about social care ;o))
I’ll be feeding back that I think a more inclusive title is important for engaging health professionals outside medicine. Thanks for commenting.
Is there a risk that this will become too broad? Dean has set this out as a venn diagram, which is probably the best way of looking at it. My understanding of a MOOC is that it is there to make knowledge transfer more efficient – if we establish a net work with a massive remit is there a risk of diluting its efficacy?
Is there scope for Med Ed, Health (& well being) HCP.
In what way do you worry the remit may be “too broad”, David? I think the topics for each week don’t have any specific connection to medicine, but are applicable to the healthcare professions in general- I’m interested in your perspective on this. The more I think about it, the less specifically “medical education” content I can see, so I think we should aim to involve the breadth of healthcare professionals. Please would you expand a little more, I’m sensing you feel differently?
Firstly, from the perspective of someone who has been outside these discussions this looks really interesting. Secondly, for anyone who is online shy there is an awful lot of technical/professional speak here. Many will not even know what an MOOC is for starters.
Are you thinking of including any service users in these discussions and if not why not?
I always ask a couple of questions about anything like this:
What is it?
Purpose?
Value?
Answer these and I reckon you have a rationale for most things. 🙂 Glad to help in any way of course and if there is a Northern meet up will come along like a shot!
Thanks for you considered comment, Ali.
Yes, the first barrier is the term “MOOC”. Its still not familiar to people within health (and that’s one of the reasons we’re so keen to deliver it) even though there are so many great MOOCs running, giving great, free access to fantastic learning opportunities.
The issue of involvement is very close to my heart, and I have no clear answers about how we’re going to ensure it in the planning of the MOOC. I know we will be looking to include content developed by people with insight from their lived experiences within the MOOC, but it’s a great point, and I’ll be sure to feed this back to the planning team.
I do hope you’ll come along to our real life event towards the end of June in Leeds- we aim to discuss issues raised through the experience of the MOOC and through the weekly nhssm chats, and hopefully work out some solutions to the barriers that we face trying to engage in online environments. I look forward to seeing you there!
I have to admit, I had to look up what a MOOC was! However, I realised that I’ve been using Twitter as my own informal MOOC for the past few months. I think that while there are a fair few HCPs that would have the skills to participate and would see the value in a MOOC, there are also quite a lot of HCPs who wouldn’t have the skills/see the value of this form of learning – I would have included myself in this group up until a few months ago.
A name like HCPMOOC / HealthMOOC would make it seem more relevant to more HCPs, but I think the important thing would be to market it well to HCPs and help them to see that it’s relevant to them (even if their technical skills aren’t brilliant). Could you use a name that would apply to all caring professions, (medical, HCPs, social care) such as CareMOOC? WellbeingMOOC?
It would be great if MOOCs were used as part of HCP degree courses, so that HCPs get used to this type of learning. Students could then promote MOOCs to qualified staff when they are out on placement. I’m trying to do this with social media on my current placement 🙂 Would love to come along to the Leeds event in June, I think it’d be really interesting.
Hope this helps!
Thanks, Lisa! Your comment pretty much sums up how I felt when I heard about MOOCs- that sense of “aha! that’s what I’ve been doing!”
Great feedback- I’ll be sure to pass it along.
How do you think it would be good to promote to HCP? I’m thinking it could be worthwhile to do some articles for the Journals to reach those who may not yet be using online networks to hear about opportunities? Interested to hear your thoughts about this!
Oh, and do email me your details so I can be sure to invite you to the Leeds event- it looks like it may be hosted on your home turf at LMU!
[…] currently titled #MedEdMOOC is planned to take place from mid-May to June 2012. See here, here and here for earlier blogs about […]
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