Synchronous Problem-Based e-Learning (ePBL) in Interprofessional Health Science Education
Sharla King
Elaine Greidanus
Mike Carbonaro
Jane Drummond
Patricia Boechler
Renate Kahlke
University of Alberta
Abstract
Health Science teams are increasingly interprofessional and infused with technology. These shifts result in a need for health science students to learn online interprofessional teamwork skills early in their training. In response, one interprofessional communication skills course was remodelled from traditional Problem-based learning (PBL) to include learning in an online collaborative (team-based) environment (Elluminate). This study evaluates the types of interactions facilitated by an interprofessional e-problem-based learning (ePBL) activity. A qualitative analysis of recorded discussions in Elluminate yielded two major categories of results. First, the online learning environment was shown to facilitate small-group collaborative interactions by updating older tools, in terms of offering intuitive, accurate, and multiple communication tools, and enabling novel forms of interaction. Second, the online learning environment prompted discussion of technology-facilitated communication difficulties in a way that led to the remediation of these difficulties. These results suggest that, while there is a need for further research on the relationship between online synchronous (real-time) learning environments and collaborative learning, ePBL can enable positive and novel forms of student interaction and facilitate student learning.
About the Author(s)...
Dr. Sharla King is Assistant Professor in Educational Psychology and Director of Health Sciences Research Council at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. She has research interests in Interprofessional Education and the development of Interprofessional collaboration competencies. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Elaine Greidanus, M. Ed, is a doctoral student at the University of Alberta and Research Manager in Health Science Research Council in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Her research interests include the development and evaluation of technology-based tools in mental health as well as interprofessional collaboration skill development and evaluation. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dr. Mike Carbonaro is a Professor in Educational Psychology at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He is interested in the interrelationship between learning and technology (computational models of cognition, and the integration of technology into teaching). He is also interested in the application of technology to support and enhance the research process. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dr. Jane Drummond is the Vice-Provost (Health Sciences Council) at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. She is the academic lead of key health science interdisciplinary and interprofessional initiatives, including the Edmonton Clinic (North). Dr Drummond has been a nurse scholar for over 30 years. Her program of research has a trans-disciplinary orientation to knowledge generation and a multi-targeted approach to knowledge dissemination and uptake. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dr. Patricia Boechler is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Her research interests include cognition, memory, learning and developmental psychology. Her research has centered around the study of cognition and learning in educational technology, particularly in investigating cognitive and educational frameworks that can inform our use of these technologies. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Renate Kahlke, M.A., is the Course Coordinator for the Interdisciplinary Health Education Course in the Health Sciences Council at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Her research interests include the integration of technology and education as well as the evaluation of Interprofessional competencies in Health Science Education. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
