Premium
Evaluating PLATO: postgraduate teaching and learning online
Author(s) -
Brown Menna,
Bullock Alison
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the clinical teacher
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.354
H-Index - 26
eISSN - 1743-498X
pISSN - 1743-4971
DOI - 10.1111/tct.12052
Subject(s) - flexibility (engineering) , focus group , the internet , medical education , unit (ring theory) , health care , medicine , qualitative research , computer assisted web interviewing , virtual learning environment , psychology , nursing , computer science , pedagogy , world wide web , mathematics education , political science , business , sociology , management , law , social science , marketing , economics
Summary Background: The use of the Internet as a teaching medium has increased rapidly over the last decade. PLATO (postgraduate learning and teaching online) was launched in 2008 by the e‐learning unit (ELU) of Wales Deanery. Located within Learning@NHSWales , a Moodle virtual learning environment (VLE), it hosts a wide range of freely available courses and resources tailored to support the education, training and continuing professional development (CPD) needs of health care professionals working across the National Health Service (NHS) Wales. The evaluation aimed to identify the costs and benefits of PLATO, report its value as attributed by users, identify potential cost savings and make recommendations. Methods: Five courses (case studies) were selected, representing the range of available e‐learning resources: e‐induction; fetal heart monitoring; cervical screening; GP prospective trainers; and tools for trainers. Mixed methods were used: one‐to‐one qualitative interviews, focus group discussions and surveys explored user views, and identified individual and organisational value. Results: Qualitative findings identified six key areas of value for users: ELU support and guidance; avoidance of duplication and standardisation; central reference; local control; flexibility for learners; and specific features. Survey results ( n = 72) indicated 72 per cent of consultants reported that PLATO was easy to access and user friendly. E‐learning was rated as ‘very/important’ for CPD by 79 per cent of respondents. Key challenges were: access, navigation, user concerns, awareness and support. Discussion: PLATO supports education and helps deliver UK General Medical Council standards. Future plans should address the suggested recommendations to realise cost savings for NHS Wales and the Wales Deanery. The findings have wider applicability to others developing or using VLEs.