A Web-Based Program About Sustainable Development Goals Focusing on Digital Learning, Digital Health Literacy, and Nutrition for Professional Development in Ethiopia and Rwanda: Development of a Pedagogical Method
BackgroundEast African countries face significant societal challenges related to sustainable development goals but have limited resources to address these problems, including a shortage of nutrition experts and health care workers, limited access to physical and digital infra...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2022-12-01
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| Series: | JMIR Formative Research |
| Online Access: | https://formative.jmir.org/2022/12/e36585 |
| _version_ | 1797734571115020288 |
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| author | Katarina Bälter Feben Javan Abraham Chantal Mutimukwe Reuben Mugisha Christine Persson Osowski Olle Bälter |
| author_facet | Katarina Bälter Feben Javan Abraham Chantal Mutimukwe Reuben Mugisha Christine Persson Osowski Olle Bälter |
| author_sort | Katarina Bälter |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundEast African countries face significant societal challenges related to sustainable development goals but have limited resources to address these problems, including a shortage of nutrition experts and health care workers, limited access to physical and digital infrastructure, and a shortage of advanced educational programs and continuing professional development.
ObjectiveThis study aimed to develop a web-based program for sustainable development with a focus on digital learning, digital health literacy, and child nutrition, targeting government officials and decision-makers at nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Ethiopia and Rwanda.
MethodsA web-based program—OneLearns (Online Education for Leaders in Nutrition and Sustainability)—uses a question-based learning methodology. This is a research-based pedagogical method developed within the open learning initiative at Carnegie Mellon University, United States. Participants were recruited during the fall of 2020 from ministries of health, education, and agriculture and NGOs that have public health, nutrition, and education in their missions. The program was conducted during the spring of 2021.
ResultsOf the 70 applicants, 25 (36%) were selected and remained active throughout the entire program and filled out a pre- and postassessment questionnaire. After the program, of the 25 applicants, 20 (80%, 95% CI 64%-96%) participants reported that their capacity to drive change related to the sustainable development goals as well as child nutrition in their organizations had increased to large extent or to a very large extent. Furthermore, 17 (68%, 95% CI 50%-86%) and 18 (72%, 95% CI 54%-90%) participants reported that their capacity to drive change related to digital health literacy and digital learning had increased to a large extent and to a very large extent, respectively.
ConclusionsDigital learning based on a question-based learning methodology was perceived as a useful method for increasing the capacity to drive change regarding sustainable development among government officials and decision-makers at NGOs in Ethiopia and Rwanda. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:45:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-487d1913f0da4176bc6bb183bccc27dd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2561-326X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:45:21Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Formative Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-487d1913f0da4176bc6bb183bccc27dd2023-08-28T23:23:19ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Formative Research2561-326X2022-12-01612e3658510.2196/36585A Web-Based Program About Sustainable Development Goals Focusing on Digital Learning, Digital Health Literacy, and Nutrition for Professional Development in Ethiopia and Rwanda: Development of a Pedagogical MethodKatarina Bälterhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2046-5641Feben Javan Abrahamhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0763-7771Chantal Mutimukwehttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5966-7649Reuben Mugishahttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8329-3336Christine Persson Osowskihttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1142-1495Olle Bälterhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5626-1187 BackgroundEast African countries face significant societal challenges related to sustainable development goals but have limited resources to address these problems, including a shortage of nutrition experts and health care workers, limited access to physical and digital infrastructure, and a shortage of advanced educational programs and continuing professional development. ObjectiveThis study aimed to develop a web-based program for sustainable development with a focus on digital learning, digital health literacy, and child nutrition, targeting government officials and decision-makers at nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Ethiopia and Rwanda. MethodsA web-based program—OneLearns (Online Education for Leaders in Nutrition and Sustainability)—uses a question-based learning methodology. This is a research-based pedagogical method developed within the open learning initiative at Carnegie Mellon University, United States. Participants were recruited during the fall of 2020 from ministries of health, education, and agriculture and NGOs that have public health, nutrition, and education in their missions. The program was conducted during the spring of 2021. ResultsOf the 70 applicants, 25 (36%) were selected and remained active throughout the entire program and filled out a pre- and postassessment questionnaire. After the program, of the 25 applicants, 20 (80%, 95% CI 64%-96%) participants reported that their capacity to drive change related to the sustainable development goals as well as child nutrition in their organizations had increased to large extent or to a very large extent. Furthermore, 17 (68%, 95% CI 50%-86%) and 18 (72%, 95% CI 54%-90%) participants reported that their capacity to drive change related to digital health literacy and digital learning had increased to a large extent and to a very large extent, respectively. ConclusionsDigital learning based on a question-based learning methodology was perceived as a useful method for increasing the capacity to drive change regarding sustainable development among government officials and decision-makers at NGOs in Ethiopia and Rwanda.https://formative.jmir.org/2022/12/e36585 |
| spellingShingle | Katarina Bälter Feben Javan Abraham Chantal Mutimukwe Reuben Mugisha Christine Persson Osowski Olle Bälter A Web-Based Program About Sustainable Development Goals Focusing on Digital Learning, Digital Health Literacy, and Nutrition for Professional Development in Ethiopia and Rwanda: Development of a Pedagogical Method JMIR Formative Research |
| title | A Web-Based Program About Sustainable Development Goals Focusing on Digital Learning, Digital Health Literacy, and Nutrition for Professional Development in Ethiopia and Rwanda: Development of a Pedagogical Method |
| title_full | A Web-Based Program About Sustainable Development Goals Focusing on Digital Learning, Digital Health Literacy, and Nutrition for Professional Development in Ethiopia and Rwanda: Development of a Pedagogical Method |
| title_fullStr | A Web-Based Program About Sustainable Development Goals Focusing on Digital Learning, Digital Health Literacy, and Nutrition for Professional Development in Ethiopia and Rwanda: Development of a Pedagogical Method |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Web-Based Program About Sustainable Development Goals Focusing on Digital Learning, Digital Health Literacy, and Nutrition for Professional Development in Ethiopia and Rwanda: Development of a Pedagogical Method |
| title_short | A Web-Based Program About Sustainable Development Goals Focusing on Digital Learning, Digital Health Literacy, and Nutrition for Professional Development in Ethiopia and Rwanda: Development of a Pedagogical Method |
| title_sort | web based program about sustainable development goals focusing on digital learning digital health literacy and nutrition for professional development in ethiopia and rwanda development of a pedagogical method |
| url | https://formative.jmir.org/2022/12/e36585 |
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