Experiential and authentic learning approaches in vaccine management

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical cold chain logistics
• Global health supply chain management
• Professional development in healthcare

Background:

• Effective storage, handling, and distribution of time and temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products (TTSPPs) are critical.
• Personnel expertise is paramount for maintaining the integrity of the pharmaceutical cold chain.
• Traditional training methods often fall short in developing the complex cognitive skills needed for cold chain management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce two innovative WHO Global Learning Opportunities (WHO/GLO) learning solutions: a mobile "wheels course" and an online "e-learning" platform.
• To highlight how these programs foster advanced expertise in cold chain systems and vaccine management.
• To demonstrate the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills through authentic learning experiences.

Main Methods:

• Development and implementation of experiential learning modules on a mobile platform ("wheels course") and online ("e-learning").
• Focus on authentic, real-life scenarios to build practical competencies.
• Alignment of learning objectives with World Health Organization's Effective Vaccine Management (EVM) criteria.

Main Results:

• Participants engage in interactive learning, developing high levels of expertise beyond simple information acquisition.
• The learning environments facilitate the application of learned skills to real-world challenges.
• Graduates have produced practical tools, such as a decision tree now used in national programs.

Conclusions:

• WHO/GLO's unique learning solutions effectively enhance expertise in pharmaceutical cold chain management.
• Experiential and authentic learning are key to developing critical cognitive skills for TTSPP handling.
• These programs contribute to improved vaccine management and public health outcomes globally.