Introduction to Reproduction: Online Education for the Millennial Learner.
Biol Reprod. 2016 Jun 22;
Authors: Castle M, Kick L, Haseley H, Wallach H, Woodruff TK
Abstract
Despite staggering rates of sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies, reproductive health education is not yet standardized across secondary or post-secondary curricula. The Women's Health Research Institute and Northwestern University Information Technology created Introduction to Reproduction, a massive open online course (MOOC) to encourage global students to learn the biological foundations of reproductive health. This digital education experience appeals to the millennial learner and offers unique opportunities to explore topics in reproductive biology via lectures, animations, and three-dimensional anatomical illustrations. Data were collected anonymously from de-identified learners who elected to self-report on their experiences while completing the course, as well as through Coursera datasets. Northwestern University's Institutional Review Board (IRB) classified this research project as an exempt status due to the de-identified nature of the collected data. Participants from 47 countries report on reproductive health content knowledge, past reproductive health education, and level of engagement with the topic. These data indicate that the Introduction to Reproduction course has a meaningful impact on its participants and presents the information in a concise and accessible format. Distribution of this course to a wider audience is the goal for the program and important to the field of reproductive health.
PMID: 27335073 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]