In the Caribbean, webinar participants and I-TECH trainers are benefiting from the cost-effective, engaging attributes of distance-learning software, including chat features, quizzing, polling, the use of images, and even video.
When I-TECH began collaboration with the Caribbean HIV/AIDS Regional Training Network (CHART) on the planning and execution of a new monitoring and evaluation training last year, the team knew that only a limited portion of technical assistance could be done face-to-face. To minimize the added cost and complicated logistics of traveling between islands (for participants and trainers alike), it was planned that one, five-day training for training and monitoring and evaluation staff would be held in St.Lucia in May, followed by a series of live webinar trainings to provide follow-up support and ongoing mentoring. The resulting program, called the Outcome Evaluation Webinar (OEW) series, has completed five sessions and has just two more before the program draws to a close in March.
Video role play demonstrations were one of the teaching methods incorporated into the e-learning sessions.
The focus of the OEW series has been to help participants in the Caribbean region develop outcome evaluation plans to improve health care worker training programs in their countries. The ability to ensure the quality of trainings and report on outcomes is crucial. It allows trainers and leaders to identify ways programs may be improved, and in turn, improve the delivery of high quality health care to a population.
Thirty-three professionals (from nine Caribbean countries) participated in the St.Lucia workshop and many continue to attend the OEW series. The content of the webinar series was developed based on a survey given at the initial training in St. Lucia, as well as real-life work examples from the presenters and participants. Shay Bluemer Miroite, and Francie Petracca, quality improvement advisors at I-TECH headquarters in Seattle, are leading the sessions with input from content experts at I-TECH and in the Caribbean.
Through chat features, quizzing, polling, the use of images, and even video, the series has been very effective in engaging participants. Although I-TECH has access to several webinar software options, the team chose Adobe Connect because it functions well in most settings, including those with low bandwidth.
Self portraits created by participants during the orientation session using the "whiteboard feature" of Adobe Connect. This activity was one of several entertaining and effective ways participants were oriented to the features of the webinar software.
“While I-TECH has gained vast experience conducting webinars through the I-TECH Clinical Seminar Series,” says Anya Nartker, training development specialist for I-TECH, “we are usually limited in the tools we can use to promote interactivity. However, in this series model we are learning many lessons about what works and what doesn’t in terms of the tools that exist and the activities we have tried.” Nartker explained that compared to other programs, where participants may log in only occasionally and presenters rotate every session, this series has involved the same presenter and participants in each session. Because the participants have used these features throughout the webinar series, they have a high level of comfort with them. This comfort has created opportunities for increased interactivity and collaboration, and the content is extremely adaptable and therefore responsive to the needs of the participants. Both of these attributes have made for a highly successful series.
For more information on I-TECH’s work in the Caribbean and relationship with the CHART network, please visit the I-TECH Caribbean page.
