Distance Learning Initiative

I-TECH's Distance Learning Initiative provides opportunities for health care professionals in resource-limited settings within Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean to gain knowledge and skills while remaining in their workplaces to attend to patients.

The Distance Learning Initiative has four goals:

1. Increase the capacity of health care workers in resource-limited settings to deliver high quality HIV care and treatment services while allowing them to remain in their workplaces to provide services at their sites.
2. Build the capacity of ministries of health and governmental institutions in using distance learning technologies and designing distance learning programs for health care workforce development.
3. Provide technical assistance in effectively using distance learning as a component of training and/or blended learning programs.
4. Support the University of Washington's Department of Global Health in implementing distance learning activities in resource-limited settings.

I-TECH has technical expertise in implementing distance learning programs across multiple country sites in settings with limited technology and low bandwidth. Drawing on the knowledge and experience of instructional design, quality improvement, and program development specialists across its global network, I-TECH develops, implements, and assesses distance learning programs aimed at building health care workforce capacity. Some examples of I-TECH's distance learning activities include:

• I-TECH HIV/AIDS Clinical Seminar Series: A bi-monthly interactive, case-based distance learning series aimed at health care workers in Africa, the Caribbean, and India, where global experts in HIV and AIDS present on a variety of advanced care, comprehensive management, and treatment topics via synchronous live sessions using Adobe Connect Pro.
• Digital video conferencing (DVC): A two-way, interactive electronic communication medium in

  

  Digital video conferencing in Namibia

  which people in different geographic locations can engage in face-to-face audio-visual exchanges using cameras, monitors, and document software. I-TECH Namibia, in conjunction with Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the United States Peace Corps, has implemented and coordinates DVC in sites across the country for the purpose of holding trainings, meetings, and other activities that are enhanced by face-to-face communication.
• Clinical Consultation Warmline: I-TECH India supports the Clinical Consultation Warmline, which is a phone line devoted to answering clinicians' questions about HIV and antiretroviral therapy (ART), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and perinatal care. Following national HIV care and treatment trainings for medical officers, clinicians from across the country can call the warmline and gain immediate access to HIV experts who will assist them in addressing challenging questions on treating HIV patients.
• Assessments of distance learning capacity: I-TECH has experience carrying out assessments of distance learning capacity and readiness. In Tanzania, I-TECH, in conjunction with the CDC,

  

  conducted an assessment to determine the feasibility of and need for distance learning as a means to provide continuing medical education to meet the demand for skilled, qualified health care workers. In Trinidad and Tobago, I-TECH conducted an assessment on behalf of the Trinidad and Tobago Health Training Centre. The purpose of the assessment was to determine the feasibility and demand for distance learning as a means to train health professionals, as well as factors influencing the use of various technologies. An assessment was just completed in South Africa and an assessment is underway in Mozambique; the purpose of both assessments is to review distance learning activities aimed at health care workers and to assess the needs and capacity of national training centers to implement distance learning to train health care workers.
• Distance learning resources for HCWs in resource limited settings: I-TECH has compiled a list of distance learning opportunities for healthcare workers in resource-limited settings that is organized by type of educational opportunity (online seminars, self-study, online enrollment courses, and more).
• GH 521: This is a skills-building course offered by the University of Washington's Department of Global Health that utilizes lecture, discussion, case studies and other interactive exercises to teach approaches to leadership and management of global health organizations.