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Didactic and technical considerations when developing e-learning and CME

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Abstract

Several usability issues were encountered during the design of a blended e-learning program for a course in evidence-based medicine for general practice trainers. The program was developed in four steps. We focused in this article on step 2 and 3. Step 2 focused on which educational principles to apply, that is, which learning theories, instructional designs and other theories should influence the program. Step 3 focused on the design elements, namely whether to use hypermedia and/or multimedia, and what screen design and which font to use. This article presents the important issues in designing an e-course and provides an impression of the complexity of designing high quality e-learning in particular for continuing medical education (CME).

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Notes on contributors

Ellen te Pas is a registered nurse, educationalist and PhD student in the Department of General Practice/Family Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Margreet Wieringa–de Waard is a GP and a professor of General Practice in the Department of General Practice/Family Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Bernadette Snijders Blok is an educationalist in the Department of General Practice/Family Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Hendricus Theodorus Pouw is a GP and a GP trainer in Health Center “Op maat”, Almere, the Netherlands and a former lecturer in General Practice in the Department of General Practice/Family Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Nynke van Dijk is a clinical epidemiologist. She holds a Master’s in Health Profession Education, and works as an assistant professor in General Practice in the Department of General Practice/Family Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Conflicts of Interest

This study was financed by CASH (commission to stimulate activities regarding GP training) of the SBOH. The SBOH is the employer of GPs in training, and finances all Dutch GP training programs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Practice/Family Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Ellen te Pas, Margreet Wieringa-de Waard, Bernadette Snijders Blok & Nynke van Dijk

  2. Health Center “Op maat”, Rimsky-Korssakovweg 51, Almere, The Netherlands

    Henny Pouw

  3. Academic Medical Center, location HvA, 3rd floor C-18, Tafelbergweg 51, 1105 BD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Ellen te Pas

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  1. Ellen te Pas
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Correspondence to Ellen te Pas.

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te Pas, E., Waard, M.Wd., Blok, B.S. et al. Didactic and technical considerations when developing e-learning and CME. Educ Inf Technol 21, 991–1005 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-014-9364-2

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