Article 2012

An Evaluation of an Online Postgraduate Dementia Studies Program

Gerontology and Geriatrics Education
Journal · Vol. 33 · Issue 4 · pp. 364-382
Abstract

Education is key to addressing the challenges of providing high-quality care to the ever growing number of people with dementia. Although dementia education is required for multiple professions and disciplines working with people with dementia and their families and friends, there is a gap in knowledge of students' views about university-level online dementia education. This article reports on an evaluation, via an online questionnaire, of student views of the delivery modes and learning impact for the first online postgraduate program in Dementia Studies worldwide. The majority of our respondents (65%) reported their participation in the Dementia Studies program as broadening their thinking, with 61% reporting that it broadened their practice. Students also reported on the utility of initial face-to-face teaching and the extent to which they are able to apply their learning to practice. The article concludes by suggesting that a blended learning approach, comprising online and face-to-face teaching with an emphasis on reflexivity has the potential to meet the global demand for skilled dementia care practitioners and to create leaders in the dementia care field. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Keywords

Author Keywords

online learning student views dementia studies

Index Keywords

Teaching female human male medical education questionnaire Humans Article education program evaluation Computer-Assisted Instruction Education, Medical, Graduate Internet geriatrics dementia Questionnaires
Author Affiliations
School of Health and Social Care, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, Dorset, United Kingdom
Department of Applied Social Science, University of Stirling, Stirling, Stirlingshire, United Kingdom
Funding & Acknowledgements
No funding information
References 10 References
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