Online interprofessional education during and post the COVID-19 pandemic: a commentary

ABSTRACT

The full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on higher education and interprofessional education programs in particular is yet to be determined, however, it is clear that this pandemic is changing the way we live, learn, and work. Online education is becoming the new normal in academia, but it is a development that may be posing a conundrum to some. Teachers of interprofessional education are expected to employ online education, but some may lack the knowledge and expertise to create and facilitate an engaging, positive, and supportive online environment for their students. This report discusses the application of Meaningful Discourse and the Community of Inquiry principles on developing online learning communities in interprofessional education.

KEYWORDS:

• Interprofessional education (IPE)
• online Education
• COVID-19
• Online Community of Learning
• Meaningful Discourse and Community of Inquiry

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hossein Khalili

Dr. Hossein Khalili, RN, BScN, MScN, PhD, FNAP is a world-renowned scholar, expert, and leader in the field of interprofessional education and collaborative practice (IPECP). He serves as the Director of UW Centre of Interprofessional Practice and Education in US, an Adjunct Research Professor at Western University, Canada, the Co-Founding Lead of the Interprofessional Research.Global, a Member Interprofessional.GlobalLeadership Team, and a Board Member of Canadian Interprofessional Health Collaborative (CIHC).