A presentation from the E-Learning in Health Conference 2011.
The East of Scotland Haematology Nurses Group (ESHNG) are dedicated to the provision of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) of Scottish haematology nurses that often work in isolation across the country with little opportunity to network and share practice by awarding education grants and holding an annual study day. To build on this principle and after taking into consideration an evaluation of participation in an online learning environment within the Therapeutic Options in Malignant Haematology Module run at Edinburgh Napier University (Campbell 2009); the ESHNG were interested in the potential use of virtual classroom facility in provision of CPD for all haematology nurses across Britain. The ESHNG were successful in obtaining funding from Macmillan Cancer Support to provide sessions every month for a year facilitated by an experienced operator for fifty nurses over the internet. There would also be a chance to conduct either case presentations or journal clubs once a month in small group sessions. The intention was to meet the learning needs of the participants by the use the virtual classroom to critically engage with current practices in malignant haematology with a diverse network of colleagues building a learning community whilst gaining additional computer skills.
The presentation would explore the digital stewarding of a CPD website including looking at technological pedagogy copyright and intellectual property issues. An example of the supporting website and recordings of sessions can be accessed at http://onlinehaematologylectures.podbean.com/
