title: Project-based faculty development for e-learning.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Christian Medical College, Vellore, in collaboration with Tufts University, Boston, conducted an advanced workshop in e-learning for medical faculty members in India.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  E-learning can enhance educational reforms for today's computer-literate generation, and keep faculty members up to speed in a rapidly changing world. The purpose of this paper is to report on the design and evaluation of a project-based faculty member development programme focused on developing faculty members as educators and as peer trainers who can use e-learning for educational reforms.
  
  
  METHODS
  During a 2-day workshop, 29 participants in groups of two or three developed 13 e-learning projects for implementation in their institutions. Evaluation of the workshop was through written feedback from the participants at the end of the workshop and by telephone interview with one participant from each project group at the end of one year. Content analysis of qualitative data was perfomed. The participants reported that they were motivated to implement e-learning projects and recognised the need for and usefulness of e-learning. The majority of projects (10 out of 13) that were implemented 'to some extent' or 'to a great extent' faced challenges with a lack of resources and administrative support, but faculty members were able to overcome them. E-learning can enhance educational reforms for today's computer-literate generation IMPLICATIONS: Designing feasible e-learning projects in small groups and obtaining hands-on experience with e-learning tools enhance the effectiveness of subsequent implementation. To successfully incorporate e-learning when designing educational reforms, faculty member training, continuing support and infrastructure facilities are essential.
authors.affiliation: Medical Education Unit, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Rashmi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vyas
authors.affiliation: Medical Education Unit, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Minnie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faith
authors.affiliation: Medical Education Unit, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Dhayakani
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Selvakumar
authors.affiliation: Medical Education Unit, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pulimood
authors.affiliation: Tufts University School of Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods; D004493:Education; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D006801:Humans; D013192:Staff Development / Q000379:methods*; D013663:Teaching