New alignments for the digital age: insights into connected learning.

In an age of ready access to people, online spaces and information, canonized formal knowledge acquisition is being disrupted. The emergence of socially constructed knowledge based on connected learning is democratising education and re-framing how formal and informal learning is considered. What we currently understand connected learning to be is limited to a combination of individual interests, networked and interdependent relationships with interconnected experiences that transcend temporal, spatial and cultural boundaries. Connected learning does not reduce learning to a phenomenon that takes place exclusively in the restricted spaces of formal education, neither does it focus exclusively on the online learning phenomenon. As such our conceptualisation of connected learning needs to deepen to effectively be able to rationalise how people learn in a digital age. This paper begins to unlock concepts and ideas associated with connected learning using current examples, setting out to build a theoretical model which begins to frame the complexities of conceptualized self-driven global learning interactions.

The relationship between spatial ability, cerebral blood flow and learning with dynamic images: A transcranial Doppler ultrasonography study.

Determining the effect of dynamic images on learning is often limited to performance measures. This study explores the impact from the perspective of cerebral blood flow in the brain during learning. Performance and neurophysiological response in high and low spatial ability were compared during learning with dynamic images. Individuals with high spatial ability appear to be better suited to learn with complex images such as dynamic images that move in time and space. The results presented here suggest that spatial ability can help to determine the effectiveness of the media we use for teaching.

Novice nurse educator professional learning and teaching at a transnational nursing campus: A case study.

AIM: This study aimed to explore how novice nurse educators are supported in cultivating an understanding of teaching and learning as they become educators in higher education, how they understand their roles as nursing educators and to identify the opportunities and challenges in developing pedagogical content knowledge experienced at one transnational nursing campus is Qatar. BACKGROUND: Novice nurse educators are frequently employed to begin educator roles because of their specialised clinical backgrounds and experiences. Yet, they often have little or no formal education regarding educational pedagogy and current teaching practices. These professional learning needs can be difficult to navigate and contribute to a challenging new role. Novice nurse educators often describe a need for more confidence in their teaching practices and understanding of their limitations and knowledge gaps regarding teaching and learning. Although research and policy emphasise the need for well-trained nurse educators with the appropriate education and knowledge to teach in post-secondary academic settings, nursing education still struggles with inconsistent approaches to recruitment and inadequate support for professional development, raising ongoing concerns. DESIGN: A qualitative case study was used for this study. METHODS: Four methods were used to collect data: teaching artifact collection, individual guided reflective questions, one-on-one interviews and observational notes. Seven novice nurse educators participated in this study. Data analysis was done using cycle coding to identify themes. RESULTS: Three themes related to novice nurse educators' professional development include 1) initial and ongoing preparation, 2) professional learning and support needed during transitions into educator roles and 3) barriers to novice nurse educator professional learning. CONCLUSIONS: Novice nurse educators may have significant professional learning needs as they begin new roles. It is essential to ensure that thoughtful and well-designed onboarding processes includes an early introduction to professional development while offering ongoing professional learning opportunities. Novice nurse educators will draw on various supports as they start their new roles. Developing well-rounded teaching practices and pedagogical content knowledge is difficult while navigating a full teaching load. Therefore, workload adjustments early in novice nurse educators' careers will allow time for professional development.

Exploring Student Perspectives and Experiences of Online Opportunities for Virtual Care Skills Development: Sequential Explanatory Mixed Methods Study.

BACKGROUND: Caring profession students require skills and competencies to proficiently use information technologies for providing high-quality and effective care. However, there is a gap in exploring the perceptions and experiences of students in developing virtual care skills within online environments. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to better understand caring professional students' online learning experiences with developing virtual care skills and competencies. METHODS: A sequential explanatory mixed methods approach, integrating both a cross-sectional survey and individual interviews, was used to better understand caring professional students' online learning experiences with developing virtual care skills and competencies. RESULTS: A total of 93 survey and 9 interview participants were drawn from various faculties, including students from education, nursing, medicine, and allied health. These participants identified the barriers, facilitators, principles, and skills related to learning about and delivering virtual care, including teaching methods and educational technologies. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to the growing body of educational research on virtual care skills by offering student insights and suggestions for improved teaching and learning strategies in caring professions' programs.

A systematic review of online education initiatives to develop students remote caring skills and practices.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has altered caring professions education and the range of technological competencies needed to thrive in today's digital economy. We aimed to identify the various technologies and design strategies being used to help students develop and translate professional caring competencies into remote working environments. Eight databases were systematically searched in February 2021 for relevant studies. Studies reporting on online learning strategies designed to prepare students to operate in emerging digital economies were included. Quality assessment was undertaken using the Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment Tool and/or the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research. Thirty-eight studies were included and synthesized to report on course details, including technologies being used and design strategies, and study outcomes including curriculum, barriers and facilitators to technology integration, impact on students, and impact on professional practice. Demonstrations of remote care, videoconferencing, online modules, and remote consultation with patients were the most common instructional methods. Audio/video conferencing and online learning systems were the most prevalent technologies used to support student learning. Students reported increased comfort and confidence when working with technology and planning and providing remote care to patients. While a recent influx in research related to online learning and caring technologies was noted, study quality remains variable. More emphasis on assessment, training, and research is required to support students in using digital technologies and developing interpersonal and technological skills required to work in remote settings.

Translating caring competencies to remote working environments: a systematic review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Caring professions attend to the health, educational and social needs of society rather than its material needs. Caring professionals are a vital part of the world's response to COVID-19, yet the global pandemic and its aftermath have significantly changed the ways in which care is provided. The rapid pivot to remote care, where the essential caring cues and opportunities are not as readily available, has put unprecedented pressure on caring professions. There is currently a lack of clear understanding and accepted standards for teaching caring profession students how to provide care remotely. The objective of this systematic review is to identify and assess the ways in which educators can integrate online learning opportunities to help students develop effective caring practices and translate these into today's remote and virtual care environments. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This systematic review will consider diverse quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods studies of innovative online education initiatives and required technology for caring profession education. Articles will be retrieved from academic databases and limited to articles reporting primary data and published in English within the last 10 years. Data extraction procedures will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses reporting guideline. The methodological quality of all studies will be assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment Tool and/or the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research. Study characteristics will be tabulated and narratively synthesised to integrate and explore relationships within the data. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: No ethics approval is required to conduct this review. Review findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and be used to inform and guide caring profession education policy, practice and research agendas with the goal of improving education for caring profession students, and care for the patients, clients and learners they serve.

Peer mentoring in medical residency education: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Medical residents may experience burnout during their training, and a lack of social support. This can impact their overall wellbeing and ability to master key professional competencies. We explored, in this study, the extent to which peer mentorship promotes psychosocial wellbeing and the development of professional competencies in medical residency education. METHODS: We searched six databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Academic Research Complete, ERIC, Education Research Complete) for studies on peer mentoring relationships in medical residency. We selected any study where authors reported on outcomes associated with peer mentoring relationships among medical residents. We applied no date, language, or study design limits to this review. RESULTS: We included nine studies in this systematic review. We found that medical residents received essential psychosocial supports from peers, and motivation to develop academic and career competencies. Medical residents in peer-mentoring relationships also reported increased overall satisfaction with their residency training programs. CONCLUSIONS: Peer-mentoring relationships can enhance the development of key professional competencies and coping mechanisms in medical residency education. Further rigorous research is needed to examine the comparative benefits of informal and formal peer mentoring, and identify best practices with respect to effective design of peer-mentorship programs.

CONTEXTE: Les résidents en médecine peuvent ressentir un épuisement professionnel durant leur formation, et un manque de soutien social. Ceci peut affecter bien-être global et leur capacité à maîtriser des compétences professionnelles essentielles. Au cours de cette étude, nous avons examiné dans quelle mesure le mentorat par des pairs favorisait le bien-être psychosocial et l'acquisition de compétences professionnelles chez les médecins résidents. MÉTHODOLOGIE: Nous avons cherché dans six bases de données (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Academic Research Complete, ERIC, Education Research Complete) des études sur le mentorat par des pairs pendant la résidence en médecine. Nous avons retenu toutes les études dont les auteurs avaient présenté des résultats associés aux relations de mentorat par des pairs chez les résidents en médecine, sans limite de date, la langue ou le devis. RÉSULTATS: Nous avons inclus 9 études dans cette revue systématique. Nous avons découvert que les médecins résidents recevaient un soutien psychosocial essentiel de la part des pairs et que ceux-ci les motivaient à acquérir des compétences universitaires et professionnelles. On a aussi constaté que les médecins résidents qui bénéficiaient d'un mentorat par des pairs étaient, de façon globale, plus satisfaits de leur programme de résidence. CONCLUSIONS: Le mentorat par des pairs peut favoriser l'acquisition de compétences professionnelles clés et de mécanismes d'adaptation au cours de la résidence en médecine. Il faudrait mener d'autres recherches rigoureuses pour comparer les avantages du mentorat informel à ceux du mentorat structuré et cerner les pratiques exemplaires de conception de programmes efficaces de mentorat par des pairs.

Psychosocial and career outcomes of peer mentorship in medical resident education: a systematic review protocol.

BACKGROUND: Many medical residents lack ready access to social and emotional supports that enable them to successfully cope with the challenges associated with medical residency. This absence of support has been shown to lead to high levels of burnout, decreased mental wellbeing, and difficulty mastering professional competencies in this population. While there is emerging evidence that peer mentoring can be an important source of psychosocial and career-related support for many individuals, the extent of the evidence regarding the benefits of peer mentorship in medical residency education has not yet been established. We describe a protocol for a systematic review to assess the effects of peer mentoring on medical residents' mental wellbeing, social connectedness, and professional competencies. METHODS: Studies included in this review will be those that report on peer-mentoring relationships among medical residents. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies will be eligible for inclusion. No date or language limits will be applied. We will search EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsychINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, ERIC, Education Research Complete, and Academic Research Complete databases to identify relevant studies. Two authors will independently assess all abstracts and full-text studies for inclusion and study quality and extract study data in duplicate. DISCUSSION: This is the first systematic review to explicitly explore the role of peer mentoring in the context of medical residency education. We anticipate that the findings from this review will raise awareness of the benefits and challenges associated with peer-mentoring relationships, further the development and implementation of formal peer-mentoring programs for medical residents, and, through identifying gaps in the existing literature, inform future research efforts. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: This protocol has not been registered in PROSPERO or any other publicly accessible registry.