Abstract
This paper introduces online learning related key considerations for asynchronous health information dissemination during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings are based on 1.5 years of real-time massive scale learning intervention during this public health emergency and on related literature reviews. Meta-data analysis on World Health Organization’s (WHO) open access online learning platform OpenWHO and review on health emergency learning interventions literature. The study sought to operationalize the key considerations related to the health information dissemination as an asynchronous online learning delivery. Statistics driven findings were made based on open-source learning platform OpenWHO use case and scientific literature from the similar recorded experiences. The paper presents analysis from the recent literature and couples it with the real-time pandemic learning response results. The study suggests establishing key considerations for health emergency related learning dissemination for mass audiences: Real-time learning provision in free access, low-bandwidth and offline use formats, national and local language provision, choice of format for learners and adjustment of the learning content based on adult learning principles. The key considerations of the online learning delivery in mass mode in health emergencies emerged from the study and are recommended way forward for any international learning provided in health emergencies.
Highlights
When reports of the novel coronavirus emerged in January 2020, World Health Organization’s (WHO) OpenWHO online learning platform team sprang into action, relying on its 2.5 years of prior experience in real-time learning response to health emergencies
The pandemic learning response of the WHO was channeled through transferring real-time knowledge for COVID-19 through WHO’s free online learning platform OpenWHO.org
WHO experts helped the OpenWHO team to adapt existing WHO evidence on the novel coronavirus and guidance on managing severe acute respiratory pathogens into learning courses [4].Course production accelerated as the first WHO Emergency Committee meeting took place 22-23 January 2020 and, fulfilling the requirements of WHO’s Emergency Response Framework, the first learning resource was put together over the 72 hours and launched in open-source format on 26 January 2020
Summary
When reports of the novel coronavirus emerged in January 2020, World Health Organization’s (WHO) OpenWHO online learning platform team sprang into action, relying on its 2.5 years of prior experience in real-time learning response to health emergencies. WHO experts helped the OpenWHO team to adapt existing WHO evidence on the novel coronavirus (later named COVID19) and guidance on managing severe acute respiratory pathogens into learning courses [4].Course production accelerated as the first WHO Emergency Committee meeting took place 22-23 January 2020 and, fulfilling the requirements of WHO’s Emergency Response Framework, the first learning resource was put together over the 72 hours and launched in open-source format on 26 January 2020. This took place before a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) was declared on 30 January 2020. Since January 2020, the OpenWHO team has transferred essential knowledge for managing the COVID-19 pandemic to frontline responders, decisionmakers and the public in a mass delivery mode [5]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET)
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
