Welcome to Developing Continuing Education Programs

Purpose: In this course the student will plan a curriculum for a continuing education course or program for healthcare professionals. In order to have accomplished this the student will have reviewed the literature demonstrating effective curricular, instructional, and evaluative strategies for continuing professional healthcare education (CPHE) and will have reviewed several theories in the psychology of adult learning and its application to continuing professional healthcare education.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Describe three major principles of adult learning and development;

2. Characterize how each of the principles is applicable to continuing professional healthcare education;

3. Apply strategies and concepts of needs assessment

4. Recognize effective instructional, curricular and evaluation strategies continuing professional healthcare education;

5. Design a curriculum for a continuing education program for healthcare professionals;

6. Plan an evaluation and outcomes study for the continuing education program designed.

Course Topics:

1. Introduction to CPHE: Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Associated Healthcare Professions (includes an introduction to professional standards and accreditation standards); the literature of CPHE

2. An introduction to adult learning theories: why they apply to CPHE

3. Meta-analysis of the literature on the effectiveness of CPHE

4. Analysis of two programs as a way of understanding CPHE

5. Needs Assessment Strategies

6. Instructional Planning,  the PRECEDE Model, and commitment concepts

7. Evaluation and Outcomes Measurement Strategies: can we really tell if CPHE is working?

Course Materials: Articles and chapters from the research, theoretical and opinion literature on CPHE, adult learning and CPHE curriculum and program design and evaluation. Materials will be drawn from the disciplines of Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Associated Healthcare Professions.

Student Assessment:

Group design and presentation to the class of a traditional CPHE program (15%)

Group design and presentation to the class of a non-traditional CPHE program (15%)

Group design and presentation to the class of a CPHE outcome study (15%)

Individual design  and presentation to the class of a CPHE Program with instructional and evaluation design (40%) 

Participation (15%)

Assignments

1.   There will be one individual project. On the final day of the course each student will present a CPHE program that they designed. Clearly it will be impossible to test the design, but the plan should be as well developed as possible, providing a complete plan for needs assessment, curriculum, traditional instruction or other teaching methods, and a plan for the program's evaluation. You should also be able to describe a feasible outcome study that could be conducted to determine the extent to which the program is effective. Since there are only six students, your presenation to the class can take up to 30 minutes. We will then take 15 minutes to discuss and critique the program.