Jhpiego spearheads an innovative e-learning project in Ghana
Jhpiego has worked in
Ghana since the early 1990s to strengthen human resources for health. Through the Quality Health Partners Program in collaboration with EngenderHealth and Abt Associates, Jhpiego recently facilitated the revision of pre-service nursing and midwifery curricula throughout the country. Now Jhpiego is collaborating with the Population Council on an exciting initiative to strengthen the knowledge and skills of tutors in long-acting family planning methods and postabortion care at 13 public sector midwifery schools, one school of public health nursing and two medical schools. The ultimate goal of this effort is to increase the number of midwifery, nursing and medical students entering their professions with updated knowledge and skills.
Cover of the EULAMI CD-ROM.
To offer the most flexibility in this nationwide initiative, Jhpiego chose a blended learning approach, in which a mix of learning methodologies is being used. The key element of the approach is the interactive CD-ROM, entitled EULAMI CD, an acronym for E-Learning Update on Long-Acting Contraceptive Methods: An Interactive CD (Strengthening Midwifery and Medical Schools in Ghana). The CD-ROM includes presentations with voice-over explanations, interactive games, quizzes and knowledge assessments, as well as video demonstrations of key skills.
Click on this link to see a short demonstration of a sample presentation from the CD.
The first step in this initiative involved tutors completing the CD-ROM, each working at their own pace to update their knowledge on recent changes to the medical eligibility criteria for use of the intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD)and to acquire information on contraceptive implants (JADELLE® and Implanon™). Several of the schools participating in the project have already been supplied with computers. Although learners do not need an Internet connection to work with the CD, providing Internet access is the next goal of the initiative because it will make Web resources and journal references available to them and promote independent updating of their knowledge.
This pilot initiative will allow tutors and eventually students to complete computer-assisted learning modules on their own, an important achievement in light of the continual shortage of midwifery tutors in Ghana. The next step in this initiative will be a group-based course to focus on updating tutors’ skills in providing these long-acting contraceptive methods. We anticipate that this group-based activity for teaching skills will progress quickly and efficiently, given the e-learning activities that the participants will have already completed using the EULAMI CD. In addition, Jhpiego staff in Ghana will be working individually with each of the schools to strengthen their teaching and increase clinical practice opportunities for their students.
About Jhpiego
For nearly 40 years, Jhpiego, (pronounced "ja-pie-go"), has empowered front-line health
workers by designing and implementing simple, low-cost, hands-on solutions that
strengthen the delivery of health care services, following the
household-to-hospital continuum of care. We partner with community- to
national-level organizations to build sustainable, local capacity through
advocacy, policy and guidelines development, and quality and performance
improvement approaches.
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