Innovative Instructional Methods in Health Education

1. Instructional Methods Health Education & Promotion Hamza Alduraidi, PhD

2. Instructional Methods Are the techniques or approaches that are used by the educator to bring the learner into contact with the content to be learned Examples: • Lecture • Group Discussion • Games • Role Playing

3. Instructional Materials (Tools) Are the actual vehicles by which information are shared Examples: • Books • Videos • Posters

4. Types of Instructional Methods: • Traditional Methods • Lecture • Group Discussion • One-to-One Instruction 2. Nontraditional Methods • Gaming • Simulation • Role-Playing • Role-Modeling • Computer-Assisted Instruction

5. Lecture Features: • Highly structured • Requires a teacher (educator) • Verbal transmission of info • Usually to a GROUP of learners • Allows minimal exchange between teacher and learner

6. Lectures are used to: • Demonstrate patterns • Present unique ways of viewing info • Getting large amount of info across large audience • Provide foundational background info • Build a baseline of information on which the teacher can build later

7. Lecture Components • Introduction: an overview of the content, objectives, importance of the topic. • Body: delivery of the carefully-prepared content. The use of audiovisual aids strengthens the effectiveness • Conclusion or summary: a review of the most important concepts covered in the lecture’s body

8. Lectures’ Strengths and Limitations • Strengths: • Good for lower-level cognitive domain • Efficient, Cost-effective, and has a reasonable time frame • Easily supplemented by handouts 2. Limitations: • Ineffective in influencing behavioral and psychomotor aspects • Do not account for individual learners’ differences

9. Group Discussion Features: • GROUPS of learners get together and exchange info, feelings and opinions • Learner-centered & subject-centered instructional method • Groups of learners can be between 3-20 people • It’s very important to define behavioral objectives at the beginning • Adherence to objectives prevents aimless wandering of ideas • Educator acts as a facilitator and makes everyone feel comfortable and safe during the discussion

10. Strengths and Limitations of Group Discussion 1. Strengths: • Can be effective in both cognitive and affective aspects • Stimulates learners to think and share thoughts and experiences • Makes learners more active • Good for patient families and chronic diseases patients • Economically beneficial and time effective 2. Limitations: • It requires people with prior knowledge of the issue

11. One-to-One Instruction Features: • Educator delivers individual instructions to one learner • Instruction is designed specifically for this INDIVIDUAL • Begins with assessment of the learner’s needs • Educator and learner then mutually then build behavioral objectives • Contracting is used to determine expectations • Questioning is one of the best techniques for this method e.g. “what is the next step?”

12. Strengths & Limitations of One-to-One Instruction • Strengths: • Individualized teaching • Good for patients with newly-diagnosed diseases • Learner-centered instruction • Effective in both cognitive and affective domains 2. Limitations: • Time consuming • Expensive • Isolates learner from other people

13. Nontraditional Instruction Methods • In nonverbal instruction, educator plays the role of designer and facilitator rather than verbal presenter or info giver. • Nontraditional instruction can be designed for either individual learner or groups learners.

14. Gaming Features: • Learners participate in a competitive activity with preset rules • Activities aim to accomplish educational objectives • The learner aims to win the game by applying knowledge • Could be designed for individuals or groups • Educator may design and facilitate games and could conduct a debrief at the end of the game to make sure educational objectives were met

15. Strengths and Limitation of Gaming 1. Strengths: • Gaming promotes retention of info • Gaming stimulates learner’s enthusiasm • Gaming is fun • Gaming can vary from simple to complex as needed 2. Limitations: • Competitive environment can be threatening to some learners • Gaming could require certain arrangement in the room, and could be noisy • Some games could cost much, especially computer games

16. Gaming examples

17. Simulation Features: • Artificial of hypothetical experience is created to engage learners • Reflects real-life conditions • Challenges learner’s decision-making abilities • Simulation helps train learners to handle situations and perform skills in made-up scenarios designed to imitate real-life • Educator facilitates simulation and leads a discussion at the end to ensure the accomplishment of educational objectives

18. Strengths and Limitations of Simulation • Strengths: • Effective for higher-level cognitive domain • Helps learners attain psychomotor and affective skills as well • Good for teaching complex processes • Excellent in nursing and other health fields education 2. Limitations: • Could be expensive • Could be very labor-intensive

19. Simulation Types • Written Simulation • Clinical Simulation

20. Role-Playing Features: • Learners participate in an unrehearsed dramatization • Each learner plays an assigned part in a made-up scenario • Educator design, facilitate and guide the role-play (directors) • Good for small groups of learners • Participants should be informed about their roles so they utilize their knowledge in creating appropriate actions and reaction in the role-play

21. Role-Modeling Features: • Educator’s use of self as a role-model in instructing the learners • People acquire new behaviors by trying to imitate trusted figures like their educators • Educator should maintain high standards of enthusiasm, communication, integrity, motivation and respect. • “Actions speak louder than word!”

22. Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI) Features: • Self-study • Individualized software programs • Computer skills are required, but no educator involved • Improves learner’s involvement and independence • Good for teaching general info, but not good for issues that need personalization of materials • No guidance, supervision or evaluation by educator.

23. Distance Learning Features: • Videoconferences • Live or recorded videos • Skype, WebEx, Google Hangout are some examples of the technologies used for distance learning • Saves travel costs and time • Technical issues with internet connection, electricity mic, camera, lighting or voice may become a barrier