TRANSFORMING LEARNING IN HEALTH SCIENCES: A DISTANCE TRAINING COURSE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION FACULTY
M.J. Trigueiro, R. Simões de Almeida, A.J. Marques
In the context of higher education, the use of distance learning methods, whether exclusively or integrated into a hybrid teaching model, has been gaining increasing prominence, particularly in the health sciences. However, not all faculty members teaching at various levels of higher education have training in the use of technological resources and tools that enable the design and implementation of distance learning courses. This work presents information on the development and implementation of a micro-course—"Technological Modernization in Health – Digital Tools for Distance Learning in Health Education"—designed to train higher education faculty in this area.
The course curriculum was structured into four key modules, delivered both synchronously and asynchronously over one month, covering:
(1) Digital Education and Virtual Pedagogical Models, exploring foundational concepts and the transition from traditional to digital learning environments;
(2) Communication, Collaboration, and Digital Resources, focusing on tools and methodologies for fostering interactive and engaging educational experiences;
(3) Development of Digital Learning Activities and Experiences, providing hands-on practice in creating and managing digital learning activities;
(4) Assessment in Digital Contexts, addressing best practices for evaluating student progress and delivering effective feedback using digital tools.
Out of 32 enrolled participants, 25 successfully completed the course, achieving scores above 95% in the assigned tasks. This success suggests a growing readiness among educators to integrate technology into their pedagogical practices. We anticipate that these newly acquired skills will translate into more innovative, inclusive, and effective teaching methodologies in health education. These results also suggest that an online course model can be an excellent approach to providing pedagogical training for higher education faculty. By fostering digital literacy among educators, this initiative contributes to the broader goal of democratizing access to high-quality education and optimizing learning outcomes in health sciences.
Keywords: Distance Training Course Higher Education, Pedagogical Training, Distance Learning.