The integration of blended learning into an occupational therapy curriculum: a qualitative reflection

BMC Medical Education

Research Article

Patricia McInerney¹  Alan Rothberg²  Paula Barnard-Ashton³ 

[1] Centre for Health Science Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, 2193, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa;School of Therapeutic Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, 2193, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa;School of Therapeutic Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand. Affiliated to the Department of Occupational Therapy, 7 York Road, 2193, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa;

关键词: Blended learning;    Curriculum development;    E-learning;    Occupational therapy;    Reflective practice;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12909-017-0977-1

 received in 2016-09-14, accepted in 2017-08-10,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThis paper presents a critical reflection of the integration of Blended Learning (BL) into an undergraduate occupational therapy curriculum which was delivered through Problem Based Learning (PBL).MethodThis is a qualitative reflection of a Participatory Action Research (PAR) study using Brookfield’s model for critical reflection of an educator’s practice. The model uses four ‘lenses’ through which to focus enquiry: Lens 1) our autobiography as a learner of practice; Lens 2) our learners’ eyes; Lens 3) our colleagues’ experiences; and Lens 4) the theoretical literature. Grounded theory analysis was applied to the data.ResultsThe factors that contributed to successful integration of technology and e-Learning into an existing curriculum, the hurdles that were navigated along the way, and how these influenced decisions and innovation are explored. The core categories identified in the data were “drivers of change” and “outcomes of BL integration”. Key situations and pivotal events are highlighted for their role in the process that led to the project maturing. Each lens reflects the successes and hurdles experienced during the study.ConclusionBrookfield’s model provides an objective method of reflection which showed that despite the hurdles, e-Learning was successfully integrated into the curriculum.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2017