When considering my current workplace, I believe I do see elements of both the organization-centric model and network-centric model. Working at a University, I believe it is mostly organization-centric; and admitedly, it CAN be extraordinarily difficult to coordinate meetings, and to collaborate. Case in point - our new campus President is REALLY fired up about interprofessional education. The problem is, it's impossible to find a TIME (short of 3-5 am) where all the students are available to participate in an interprofessional course. Yes, we could do it online, but I believe there still IS value to face-to-face time. After all, our student pharmacists will eventually be in the real world where they DO have to speak face-to-face with other health care professionals.
Even within our own School of Pharmacy, we are three departments, and after working there since 1990, I am still surprised to find faculty members in the other two departments whose professional interests align with my own to some degree. Who knew?
Steps toward a network-centric model are indeed in their infancy at my workplace. We have a robust IT department, but there is a disconnect with the faculty, who struggle with what to do with all this cool technology. Some feel the curriculum is there to support the technology, not the other way around! Perhaps we need to go back to the "WIIFM" model with faculty and network-centric opportunities - teach them what's in it for them!! Maybe all our faculty should take EDUC 689!
Hi Lynn:
ReplyDeleteYour comment with regards to finding time to have all students from different professions meet is a common challenge to IPE, which was mentioned often on the CABIV conference. Although, a couple of institutions are managing to do IPE experiential learning rotations to provide the face-to-face time, while some are doing IPE course electives within the curriculum. I did meet someone in the conference who said their institution was working on getting all the students together in a big conference room, and also use additional conference rooms to meet all at the same time. The scheduling can be a challenge, but I have heard that when the decision of having an IPE campus comes from the "top-down" instead of bottom-up, the chances of working are high; so we are lucky on this aspect.
Also, I agree with you that all faculty should take EDUC689. I think it would be a great idea to do an informal learning faculty development workshop with tools that can be used to enhance learning, communication and collaboration.
~Livia