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Table 1 Traditional and blended learning course summary

From: Training community healthcare workers on the use of information and communication technologies: a randomised controlled trial of traditional versus blended learning in Malawi, Africa

 

Traditional learning

Blended learning

Interventions

5-day class-based “Introduction to ICT and eHealth” course

3-week blended learning “Introduction to ICT and eHealth” course

Theory

Bloom’s taxonomy

Bloom’s taxonomy, mixed rotation model

Learning objectives

To equip HSAs and Senior HSAs with knowledge and skills to use computers, tablets and smartphones in their everyday practice, as well as to advance their understanding of the potential of e/mHealth in health care provision and public health policy

To equip HSAs and Senior HSAs with knowledge and skills to use computers, tablets and smartphones in their everyday practice, as well as to advance their understanding of the potential of e/mHealth in health care provision and public health policy

Content

Introduction to computers, tablets and smartphones; Computer skills; Introduction to eHealth; Introduction to mHealth; Use of community and facility-based data in decision making

Introduction to computers, tablets and smartphones; Computer skills; Introduction to eHealth; Introduction to mHealth; Use of community and facility-based data in decision making

Materials

PowerPoint slides, computers, tablets and smartphones

PowerPoint slides, computers, tablets and smartphones

Educational strategies

Lectures, seminars, tutor-led training workshops

Seminars, eLearning workshops, off-site mLearning

Incentives

Travel, catering and accommodation costs

Travel, catering and accommodation costs

Instructors

Faculty from Imperial College London and Mzuzu University, Senior staff from Luke International

Faculty from Imperial College London and Mzuzu University, Senior staff from Luke International

Delivery

Face-to-face (1:19 instructor/learner ratio)

Face-to-face (1:20 instructor/learner ratio), e/mLearning

Environment

University lab

University lab, community

Schedule

19 sessions (opening, 6 lectures, 7 seminars, 4 tutor-led training workshops, discussion, closing), delivered over 5 days (9 am-5 pm Monday-Friday), lasting between 1 and 2 h each (total learning hours = 31), with 15-min breaks between sessions and 1 h lunch break each day

19 sessions (opening, 5 mLearning sessions, 7 seminars, 1 tutor-led and 3 eLearning workshops, discussion, closing), delivered over 3 weeks (Week 1: 9 am-5 pm Monday-Tuesday, Week 2: 2 h per day Monday-Friday, Week 3: 9 am-5 pm Tuesday), lasting between 1 and 2 h each (total learning hours = 31), with 15-min breaks between sessions and 1 h lunch break each day

Face-to-face time

31 h face-to-face time

21 h face-to-face time, 10 h independent study

Adaptations

To maximize the benefit for learners a bilingual research assistant was present at all times

To maximize the benefit for learners a bilingual research assistant was present during all face-to-face sessions (including the on-site eLearning sessions) and available via phone on the days of the mLearning sessions, and an offline mLearning module was designed due to network connectivity limitations

Modifications

None

None

Attendance

Participants were required to sign an attendance sheet at the beginning and end of each day. Of the 20 participants assigned, 19 attended the course

Participants were required to sign an attendance sheet at the beginning and end of each class-based day. For the off-site learning sessions, participants were required to respond to daily telephone reminders. All 20 participants attended the course

Planned delivery

A checklist was used to determine whether the course materials and educational strategies were delivered as planned

A checklist was used to determine whether the course materials and educational strategies were delivered as planned

Actual schedule

The course was delivered as scheduled

The course was scheduled in June 2016 but was delivered in August 2016 upon request from the DHO