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Establishing an infrastructure to support e-learning

Val BrockiIMT Co-ordinator Airedale NHS Trust/NPfIT ETD Lead Bradford Health Informatics Service

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Abstract

What do NHS Trusts need to do to support e-learning?

How can we ensure it is cost-effective? In what ways do we need to work differently? A look at how collaborative approaches like

Bradford Health Informatics Service’s “Learnonline “ can help.

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More questions than answers!

Experience to date of Airedale NHS Trust in establishing structures to support the implementation of e-learning.

Groups Staff Resource issues Collaborative work

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The nightmare!

Large amounts of money wasted on buying expensive e-learning resources that do not meet learners’ needs because they are not adequately supported!

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Trust E-learning Strategy Group

Representatives from

Training (IMT and General)I.T.Professional Development

(acute, theatres, women & children’s, AHPs) Hotel ServicesLibrary & Knowledge ManagementRisk ManagementBradford Health Informatics Service (E-Learning

Project Manager)

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Trust E-learning Strategy Group

Aims: To audit current e-learning activity (and learn from

experience) To establish a network of e-learning advisors

covering all parts of the Trust To educate managers and staff To disseminate information and share best practice To produce an e-learning strategy for the Trust – to

include policies re. tutor training, quality, etc.

Groups

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Bradford ETD Partnership

Bradford District Care TrustBradford Social ServicesBradford Teaching Hospitals NHS TrustAiredale PCTBradford City Teaching PCTBradford South & West PCTNorth Bradford PCTAiredale NHS TrustWYMAS

Groups

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Bradford ETD Partnership

Aims are to:

• Develop a co-ordinated approach to ETD across the partner organisations

• Learn from and share good practice

• Develop sub-groups to co-ordinate and promote joint working on ETD matters (Share development costs)

• Effect change where this would be of benefit to partner organisations

Groups

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West Yorkshire Education, Training and Development Group

Hosted by WY Workforce Development Confederation

Representatives from NHS Trusts across West Yorkshire

A useful forum for exchanging ideas and experience and developing collaborative working

Access to funding for training etc

Groups

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Staff with a stake in E-learning

IMT Training/ETD Lead responsible for convening E-learning strategy group, reporting to Director of Training & Organisation and producing the Trust’s E-learning strategy.

Staff

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Staff with a stake in E-learning

“The converted”

– Director of Training & Education

– Training staff

– E-learning “Champions” from departments

Staff

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Staff with a stake in E-learning Everyone!

Staff

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Staff with a stake in E-learning

Managers in particular need to be educated:– E-learning is not a cheap “quick-fix” alternative to

traditional methods of training.

Staff need to understand what is involved

Staff

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Important external contacts

E-learning Project Manager for Local Health Community

Colleagues at WDC Colleagues at neighbouring NHS Trusts

Staff

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Resource issues

Technical issues– Broadband, band width etc– Learning Management Systems– Software to support online conferencing– Software to design on-line learning “Blackboard”

etc.– Adequate I.T. staff to provide technical support– Learning designers – local or shared

Resources

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Resource issues

Where will e-learners study?

– How practical are these locations in reality?

– Can the learner study without interruption?

– Is it necessary to book? ( Additional admin?)

– Do they all have the appropriate hard and software and furniture?

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Resource issues

Do learners have adequate I.T. skills?

Don’t forget staff with special needs e.g.Visual Impairment. You may need to provide specially adapted equipment.

E.g. www.visualeyesuk.com

Staff

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Resource issues

Who will provide tutorial support to e-learners?

– Identify and train tutors

Training for tutors e.g.

http://iet.open.ac.uk/coursesonline/ode/description.cfm#H802

http://www.trainingfoundation.com

Resources

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Resource issues

How will tutorial support be provided?

– Are you going to provide a Helpdesk?

– When are tutors going to be available?

– Will communication be synchronous/asynchronous?

– Are you going to arrange for on-line or video conferencing or discussion boards. Who will moderate them?

– ……and is this necessary? Would a face-to face meeting be more practical and economical.

– Will the Knowledge Manager provide links to other accredited websites?

Resources

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Resource issues

– Remember that by using E-learning you are, to a large extent, losing the benefits of learning in a social context and you need to compensate for this.

– Doing it electronically can be difficult, expensive and time-consuming. Sometimes it’s easier to arrange a meeting.

– Even if the rest of the course is on-line, a kick-off meeting, at the start of the course is a good idea.

Resources

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Blended learning

Seems to be a practical way to approach the introduction of e-learning.

Can existing courses be enriched by using it?

Will existing courses be replaced? Develop resources like “Learnonline”

Resources

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Resource issues

Protected learning time Additional administrative burden imposed by

Learning Management Systems (E.g. ECDL Portal)

“Same old, same old……….”

Resources

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Quality Assurance

Establish systems to ensure that e-learning resources are accredited and reliable.

Consult professional colleagues Beware being pressured into purchasing e-

learning packages as a knee-jerk response to urgent problems - e.g. MRSA - without having them thoroughly checked by qualified staff

Resources

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Summary…

Identify stakeholders Establish groups and lines of communication –

mixed team approach - or put E-learning on agenda of existing groups

Agree strategy, responsibilities, processes, quality assurance

Access funding Secure resources: soft- and hardware, training

rooms, personnel, expertise, materials, courses, TIME etc.

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Summary…continued

Educate managers and staff Secure protected learning time Arrange for basic I.T. training and TTT (tutorial

support and software) Use e-learning only where appropriate Use only high-quality courses e.g ukhep modules

http://www.ukhep.com Provide support for your learners! Evaluate