Baptist Health South Florida and FIU Online have joined forces to launch a series of health massive open online courses (MOOC).
“This partnership with Baptist Health South Florida offers us the opportunity to not only provide on-demand free courses for our community, but also showcase an innovative approach to healthcare education,” said Joseph Riquelme, interim assistant vice president for FIU Online. “Individuals can access MOOCs at a time and place that’s convenient for them, so we’re able to reach many more people than through traditional educational channels. Online learning also allows for personalized learning—each individual can control the pace of the course, and revisit the content as needed.”
The first of the three planned MOOCs is Diabetes 101: Beyond the Basics, a course featuring Baptist Health Registered Dietician Angela Placeres and Registered Pharmacist Raquel Klieger who teach students how to recognize the difference between the various types of diabetes, identify treatment options, outline ways to prevent complications, and discuss the role of nutrition and exercise in managing diabetes. The other two MOOCs are being planned.
“Designed for anyone with diabetes or whose family is affected by diabetes, our goal is that this course will help place them on a path to a happier, healthier lifestyle,” said Lois Exelbert, patient care manager of the Baptist Health Diabetes Care Center. “We balance the science of diabetes with practical tools, including how to identify portion sizes, count carbohydrates and administer insulin.”
The diabetes-focused MOOC was developed and taught by certified diabetes educators. The course is divided into four modules that cover information on Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes. Each module begins with a pre-test that is then followed by each presentation. The course concludes with a post-test to gauge the students’ progress and understanding of the MOOC. Students who successfully complete the MOOC receive a certificate of completion.
“We are extremely pleased to be able to partner with FIU to provide expanded access to healthcare education for our community,” said Dr. Thinh Tran, chief medical and chief quality officer for Baptist Health South Florida. “We look forward to working together on additional course offerings that will help us to equip people with the knowledge they need in order to lead healthier lives. As we work to increase awareness of the importance of overall wellness and prevention, the MOOCs are a great way to reach a broad base of students with useful, life-changing information.”
Course registration is free. To register for Diabetes 101: Beyond the Basics and watch an overview of the course content visit http://cpe.fiu.edu/baptist.
