Students, faculty showcase e-learning efforts

On Wednesday, 11 faculty members and 21 students unveiled the latest modules in UNMC’s e-learning initiative.

At a reception, project directors and members spoke about their projects with visitors. The e-module efforts varied from a range-of-motion examination of the shoulder to preparatory techniques in cytology to a module on abdominal aortic aneurysms.

For more information on all student and faculty projects, click here.

The completion of the projects marked the first time students’ efforts had been incorporated into the e-learning initiative, an aspect that brought a new level of vitality to UNMC’s efforts, said Dele Davies, M.D., vice chancellor for academic affairs.

“We are just thrilled with the energy and creativity brought by the students. We are now poised to move to the next level, which is direct conversion of whole courses from curriculum in different colleges into e-Learning modules,” Dr. Davies said.

Peggy Pelish, Ph.D., has already incorporated her and Katherine Hoffman’s module — “Clinical Management of an Infant in Respiratory Distress” — into next fall’s curriculum.

“Many of the students we have in our nurse practitioner program have RN experience, usually at hospitals,” she said. “This module teaches about how to handle a situation in a clinic, where there may be fewer people around to assist in a critical situation.”

Pelish said creating the module was fun, and students have given it very positive reviews.

Alizabeth Truhe, an RSTE student, created her module on abdominal aortic aneurysms to serve as an interactive study guide for her fellow students, drawing on images from the anatomage table to walk users through symptoms, risk factors and other information, culminating in a quiz at the end.

“Students have identified ways to make the curriculum better,” said Peggy Moore, e-learning instructional designer. “The faculty have brought ideas to enhance the curriculum and engage students, as well.”

Sarah Richards, M.D., has already presented her module — on interaction with patients — at the annual Society of General Internal Medicine meeting in Toronto.

“People really seemed to like it,” she said. “And in terms of our residents here, I’ve gotten very positive feedback.”

Count UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., in the positive feedback column, as well. Examining the finished modules at Wednesday’s event, Dr. Gold called the faculty and students’ efforts transformational.

“This has been an exceptional demonstration of what our students and faculty can do,” Dr. Gold said. “What they are doing is bringing together the very best of the technology and applying it to the knowledge and the skills that health care professionals of the future really need.”