Introducing an E-learning Solution for Medical Education in Liberia

Area of Science:

• Medical Education Technology
• Health Workforce Development
• International Health Partnerships

Background:

• Liberia's health workforce requires strengthening post-Ebola and civil war.
• E-learning offers opportunities for medical students, faculty development, and healthcare worker retention.
• A partnership formed to create an e-learning solution for the College of Health and Life Sciences (COHLS).

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the implementation of an e-learning solution at COHLS.
• To describe challenges, successes, and lessons learned during implementation.
• To provide a model for e-learning in Liberian medical education.

Main Methods:

• An evolutionary infrastructure approach was used, including offsite Software as a Service (SaaS).
• Local staff received IT skills training for system administration, with remote support provided.
• Workshops were conducted for staff on creating online teaching materials and developing an e-learning strategy.

Main Results:

• A stable internet connection and Learning Management System (LMS) were established, accessible 24/7 via mobile devices.
• An intranet with Office 365 services was implemented, addressing both technology and human resources.
• The e-learning strategy aimed to improve teaching, increase qualified doctors, and reduce lecturer workload.

Conclusions:

• Implementing e-learning in medical education presents significant challenges, including infrastructure and IT limitations.
• A 15-month collaborative effort between three partners enabled the creation of a viable e-learning solution.
• The developed model is potentially replicable for other faculties and institutions in Liberia.