Abstract
There are obvious benefits to working in collaboration. However, real collaboration takes time; time to engage in meetings, complete accountability processes, and resolve problems. The delicate balance between democracy and efficiency can be compromised when you have to choose between equal participation and looming deadlines (Stoecker, 2003). Weaver and Cousins (2004) described this dilemma as assessing manageability or having to make a choice between achieving complete diversity on the researcher-community team and the unwieldiness of working with a large committee. Compromise is often necessary. This article describes our experiences using a collaborative approach involving university-based researchers and community professionals—in this case, long-term care (LTC) managers, administrators, and hospital-based educators and researchers—to create an online dementia care training program.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Web Course Tools (WebCT): An e-learning platform and online course management system used extensively in colleges, universities, and other educational institutions. WebCT supports online tools such as discussion forums, e-mail, live chat, and whiteboarding, as well as content in various formats (e.g., html documents, Web pages, and so on). WebCT recently merged with Blackboard, another leading provider of educational software.
Demand-Driven Learning Model: An e-learning model that is grounded within a constructivist framework and defined by five interrelated dimensions that, in concert, create a high-quality e-learning experience: superior structure; three consumer demands of content, delivery, and service; and learner outcomes.
Instructional Designer: Person who uses technology (media) to design optimised learning events. Instructional design is historically grounded in cognitive and behavioural psychology.
Collaborative Research Approach: A research approach that uses the strengths of both researchers and community-based practitioners to increase the quality of the research process and the impact of the research outcomes.
Psychogeriatric Nurse: A nurse whose practice is focused on older people (usually 65 years of age or older) with mental illness and/or cognitive impairment.
Pedagogy: The profession, art, science, theory, principles, or methods of education, instruction, and teaching.
Long-Term Care Facility: A licensed residence for individuals who require personal support and nursing care, and who cannot remain in their family home, because support at home (from family or agencies) is insufficient or unavailable. While funding sources may differ, LTC facilities and nursing homes can be categorized together under this definition.
E-Learning: Learning that takes place via the Internet.