Introduction to Traumatic Brain Injury Course- Evaluation Report

Summary

From October 21st, 2019 to November 30th, 2019, Physiopedia successfully delivered a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) entitled “Traumatic Brain Injury Programme” via the Physioplus online learning platform. This MOOC aimed to provide a basic theoretical understanding of the management of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) to equip physiotherapists with sufficient knowledge to manage a person following a traumatic brain injury. The programme consisted of four courses, which included:

1. Introduction to TBIs
2. the assessment and classification of TBIs,
3. management of TBIs assessing impairments and
4. an overview of the management of TBIs and specific therapeutic interventions for TBIs.

In each course, the learner completed the required learning activities and a final quiz that tested the knowledge gained from the course. To complete the overall TBI programme, the learner had the option to submit and pass a written assignment.

Course Type: Free, Open, Online

Institution: Physiopedia

About this course: the MOOC aimed to provide a basic theoretical understanding of the management of traumatic brain injury in order to equip physiotherapists with sufficient knowledge to manage a person following a traumatic brain injury. The course provided the learner with information on how to: assess impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions, set appropriate goals of treatment, formulate evidence-informed treatment plans, and implement and evaluate treatments.

Target audience: these courses were written for physiotherapy clinicians, students, and assistants. Other healthcare professionals interested in this subject were also welcomed to participate.

Time commitment: 16 hours over four weeks (with an optional extra 8 hours)

Date: October 21st – November 30th, 2019, (the course remains available on the Physioplus platform to all members)

Requirements: participants were required to complete online learning activities, engage with additional resources, and complete the course evaluations (quizzes). 

Assessment: there was a final quiz, and participants could optionally complete a final assignment to demonstrate the knowledge gained from the four courses.

Awards: 4 course completion certificates awarding a total of 18.3 Physioplus (P+) points.

Accreditation: each of the programme was accredited by Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (ProCert; 4CCUs) and South African Society of Physiotherapy (6 General CEUs Level 1).

Registrations: 20,522

Countries represented: 185

Acknowledgements

The Traumatic Brain Injury MOOC was developed and delivered by Physiopedia and interested individual stakeholders following a private donation that specifically asked to educate physiotherapists globally in the management of traumatic brain injuries.

Course coordinator:

• Rachael Lowe

Content contributors:

• Naomi O’Reilly
• Anna Zeimer
• Wendy Walker
• Jennifer Quartano
• Gavin Williams
• Leanne Hassett
• Megyn Robertson
• Joan Leung
• Zillah Whitehouse
• Ahmad Rifai Sarraj
• Jaunati Metha

Course facilitators:

• Rachael Lowe
• Tony Lowe
• Naomi O’Reilly
• Anna Zeimer
• Wendy Walker

Special thanks to the generous private donation that made this course possible and to Nicole Hills for writing up the report.

For any information regarding this report, please contact: Rachael Lowe - [email protected]

Introduction

During October and November 2019, Physiopedia ran its 8th Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) entitled the “Traumatic Brain Injury Programme.” The MOOC was delivered as a programme of four courses and an optional written final assignment.

The Traumatic Brain Injury Programme aimed to provide a basic theoretical understanding of the management of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) to equip physiotherapists with sufficient knowledge to manage a person following a traumatic brain injury. The course included education on assessing impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions, setting appropriate goals for treatment, formulating an evidence-based treatment plan, implementing treatment, and evaluating treatment success.

The four-week-long courses presented different topics through a variety of learning activities to suit all learning styles.  The required learning activities within each course were developed to take between 4-6 hours depending on the participant's learning style and optional activities were provided should the participant wish to take part in additional learning.  A short orientation period before the course started provided participants with an opportunity to become familiar with the delivery platform and the topic via the provided pre-course resources.

The course was delivered through the Physioplus (P+) online learning platform; an innovative platform specifically developed to provide online education and support learners with a personalised learning dashboard. For each course, the related learning activities were released on a specific course page. Participants engaged with each course learning activity, and their activity was recorded and displayed in their personal learning dashboard.

A course was considered complete once the learner finished all required learning activities and successfully passed the final quiz that tested knowledge gained each week. There was also an optional written assignment designed to demonstrate the knowledge gained from all four courses.  On completion of each course the participants had the option to download a completion certificate and export a record of their learning from their activity log.

This report evaluates the experiences and engagement of the participants on the Traumatic Brain Injury MOOC.

1.1 Aim

The programme of four courses aimed to provide a basic theoretical understanding of the management of traumatic brain injury in order to equip physiotherapists with sufficient knowledge to manage a person following a traumatic brain injury. The programme included knowledge on assessing impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions, setting appropriate goals of treatment, formulating an evidence-based treatment plan, implementing treatment and evaluating its success.

The global network formed through this course will allow for shared knowledge and experiences to support good health care and a better quality of life for individuals with a traumatic brain injury around the world.

1.2 Learning Objectives

At the end of this programme of courses, participants were able to:

1. Discuss the current burden of traumatic brain injury
2. Understand the risk factors and complex causes for traumatic brain injury
3. Understand and recognise the various clinical presentations of traumatic brain injury
4. Select appropriate assessment techniques and outcomes measures for traumatic brain injury
5. Evaluate the information gathered from the assessment of an individual with a traumatic brain injury in order to formulate a treatment plan
6. Demonstrate clinical reasoning when presented with impairments related to traumatic brain injury
7. Demonstrate an understanding of the range of therapeutic interventions for the management of traumatic brain injury
8. Critically analyse the literature related to traumatic brain injury assessment, management, and rehabilitation