Integrating competency-based education with a case-based or problem-based learning approach in online health sciences

Ilse Johanna Sistermans

doi:10.1007/s12564-020-09658-6

Abstract

In the current competitive and globalized economy, employers and professional organizations call for higher education institutions to deliver graduates with relevant competencies and skills. In response, a growing number of higher educational institutions is introducing competency-based education. This is particularly true for health science programs, which have a tradition of applying a case-based or problem-based learning approach. The effort to merge a problem- or case-based online learning approach with competency-based education offers various opportunities, while facing numerous challenges. To support these efforts, this paper aims at identifying suitable practices, as well as challenges for online course design and online learning activities for higher education health science programs, when integrating competency-based education with an online problem-based and/or case-based learning approach. It found various opportunities for online learning activities that support competency-based education, problem-based learning and case-based learning, whereas challenges relate to logistics, administration, and the affordances of an LMS.

Highlights

In response to the current competitive and globalized economy, there is a call from employers and professional organizations for higher education institutions to deliver graduates who possess relevant competencies and skills
Maastricht University Master Health Education and Promotion (HEP), is seeking to restructure the program toward a competency-based approach, in order to comply with the framework, recently developed by the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE), that addresses competencies required for graduates seeking a career in the field of health promotion and education (Barry et al 2012)
The objective of the interview was to obtain a selection of online design and online learning activities that fit both an online problem-based and/or a case-based learning approach, and an online competency-based education approach, and to address opportunities and challenges

Summary

Introduction

In response to the current competitive and globalized economy, there is a call from employers and professional organizations for higher education institutions to deliver graduates who possess relevant competencies and skills. A growing number of educational institutions and workplace training programs have introduced competency-based education, or are planning to do so, with a significant number of higher education health science programs applying constructivist approaches of problem-based and/or case-based learning. Maastricht University Master Health Education and Promotion (HEP), is seeking to restructure the program toward a competency-based approach, in order to comply with the framework, recently developed by the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE), that addresses competencies required for graduates seeking a career in the field of health promotion and education (Barry et al 2012). The availability of online modules within the program, relies on institutional funding

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Discussion

Conclusion