Designing Criteria and Indices for Educational Ranking of Paramedical Sciences Schools in Iran

Background: Assessing the statue of educational services in schools of Paramedical Sciences can help authorities to plan for further promotion through identifying schools' strengths and weaknesses. Objective: To design criteria and indices for educational ranking of associate programs of Paramedical Sciences including Laboratory Sciences, Operating Room Nursing, Technology of Radiology, Anesthesiology, Nuclear Medicine, Technology of Radiotherapy and Medical Emergencies in Iran. Methods: In an expert committee, criteria used in worldwide rankings and medical education standards were reviewed. Then a set of criteria and indices which were compatible to Iran educational system was devised and their weights were defined through consensus developing methods. Each school was asked to introduce a representative to collect schools’ information and schools were visited to verify the gathered data. Then schools' scores for each criterion were calculated. Results: A set of 42 criteria sorted as a tree diagram was devised. Main branches of this tree included input branch consisting of National Entrance Examination (Weight: 2%), faculty members (weight: 18%), and facilities and equipment (weight: 20%), process branch consisting of administrations (weight: 40.5%) and support and counseling systems (weight: 4.5%) and output branch consisting of students' output (weight: 9%) and faculty members' output (weight: 6%). Conclusion: This study provided the educational strengths and weaknesses of Paramedical Sciences programs in Iran. The results can be used in devising practical strategies for qualitative and quantitative improvement . Keywords: Education, Allied health, Ranking, Stratification, School, Associate program

Designing a Model of Student Support in e-Learning Using Qualitative Content Analysis and Analytic Hierarchy Process

Student support services, especially for students who study virtually, increase satisfaction, attract new students, complete the course, and improve overall student performance. Given the importance of student support in e-learning and the fact that student support models should be specific to the culture and economic conditions and technology of their context, the present study set to design a native model of student support in e-learning for post-graduate students. To conduct the research, first a systematic search was performed to extract the existing models of student support. Through forming an expert panel and rating the models, more compatible models with the context of Iran were selected. The interview questions were then extracted from the concepts of the models who scored the most in the expert panel session. In relation to the examples of student support, interviews were conducted with 22 university teachers, education officials, and post-graduate students studying in educational branches leading to a virtual degree of medical sciences. Using content analysis of codes, sub-categories and the resulting categories were extracted from the interviews. Finally, in the expert panel session, using the (analytic hierarchy process) AHP, the categories were prioritized and the model was designed. After analyzing the content of the interviews, four main categories, namely teaching and learning, interactions and communications, empowerment, and structural support were extracted and the final model of student support was designed using the opinions of e-learning instructors. Despite relatively similar similarities between the native model of student support for e-learning students and the existing models, this model, which is designed based on the needs of students and faculty and e-learning officials, places more emphasis on teaching, learning, interactions, and communications

Psychometric properties of the Postgraduate Hospital Educational Environment Measure in an Iranian hospital setting

Background: Students’ perceptions of the educational environment are an important construct in assessing and enhancing the quality of medical training programs. Reliable and valid measurement, however, can be problematic – especially as instruments developed and tested in one culture are translated for use in another. Materials and method: This study sought to explore the psychometric properties of the Postgraduate Hospital Educational Environment Measure (PHEEM) for use in an Iranian hospital training setting. We translated the instrument into Persian and ensured its content validity by back translation and expert review prior to administering it to 127 residents of Urmia University of Medical Science. Results: Overall internal consistency of the translated measure was good (a=0.94). Principal components analysis revealed five factors accounting for 52.8% of the variance. Conclusion: The Persian version of the PHEEM appears to be a reliable and potentially valid instrument for use in Iranian medical schools and may find favor in evaluating the educational environments of residency programs nationwide

Factors Creating an Educational Atmosphere in Cyberspace: A Qualitative Study

Background: Because of the developments and advancements in information technology (IT), unparalleled opportunities have been provided in electronic arenas; among them, electronic learning (e-learning) systems have brought attention to the facilitation of education. Since educational environment is a factor influencing the success of educational programs, the current study aims at evaluating the factors that create the educational atmosphere in cyberspace. Methods: The current study employed a qualitative content analysis approach and a targeted sampling method. A total of 11 students and 13 faculty members were recruited by a semi-structured interview in 2015. The interviews were continued separately for both students and lecturers up to the saturation of sample size. After the interview data were qualitatively analyzed. Results: After the data analysis, 685 codes were extracted out of the qualitative data, which were reevaluated in several stages and classified into 38 subcategories. Then, 13 categories and 6 domains (The status of virtual education, learner support, teaching skills, evaluation, professionalism and professional ethics, and self-efficacy) were created. Conclusions: Since the educational environment is an inseparable part of a curriculum, the factors creating an educational atmosphere in cyberspace are critically important and necessary for the qualitative and quantitative evaluations of the curriculum and prediction of educational outcomes. Keywords: Educational Atmosphere, Cyberspace, Qualitative Study, Content Analysi

Interpreting students’ perception of the e-Learning environments: determining optimal Cut-off Points for the e-Learning Educational Atmosphere Measure (EEAM)

There is a need for institutions to evaluate their e-Learning educational atmosphere to improve students’ learning experiences. The E-Learning Educational Atmosphere Measure (EEAM) is a comprehensive tool focusing on the students’ perception of the e-Learning environment. To be able to verbally interpret the results of the measure for better comprehension and more effective and consistent usage, it is essential to establish clear cut-off scores. We aimed to determine the optimal cut-off points for the EEAM scores by plotting them as the ROC curves versus a single global rating question. The findings showed that while the range of the possible EEAM scores was 40 to 200, cut-off points of equal or below 127, between 127 to 152, and equal or above 152 indicated students’ perception of the e-Learning atmosphere as “poor to weak”, “moderate”, and “good to excellent” respectively. The Area Under the Curve for scores that reflected the “poor to weak” state was 0.875 (p-value=0.000) with a sensitivity of 84.8% and a specificity of 70.0%. This area was 0.947 (p-value=0.000) for the “good to excellent” state with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 82.1%. Our findings are useful in studying, evaluating, and monitoring the e-Learning educational atmosphere of institutions or comparing the results of multiple settings

Designing Criteria and Indices for Educational Ranking of Paramedical Sciences Schools in Iran

Background: Assessing the statue of educational services in schools of Paramedical Sciences can help authorities to plan for further promotion through identifying schools' strengths and weaknesses. Objective: To design criteria and indices for educational ranking of associate programs of Paramedical Sciences including Laboratory Sciences, Operating Room Nursing, Technology of Radiology, Anesthesiology, Nuclear Medicine, Technology of Radiotherapy and Medical Emergencies in Iran. Methods: In an expert committee, criteria used in worldwide rankings and medical education standards were reviewed. Then a set of criteria and indices which were compatible to Iran educational system was devised and their weights were defined through consensus developing methods. Each school was asked to introduce a representative to collect schools’ information and schools were visited to verify the gathered data. Then schools' scores for each criterion were calculated. Results: A set of 42 criteria sorted as a tree diagram was devised. Main branches of this tree included input branch consisting of National Entrance Examination (Weight: 2%), faculty members (weight: 18%), and facilities and equipment (weight: 20%), process branch consisting of administrations (weight: 40.5%) and support and counseling systems (weight: 4.5%) and output branch consisting of students' output (weight: 9%) and faculty members' output (weight: 6%). Conclusion: This study provided the educational strengths and weaknesses of Paramedical Sciences programs in Iran. The results can be used in devising practical strategies for qualitative and quantitative improvement . Keywords: Education, Allied health, Ranking, Stratification, School, Associate program

Developing Educational Status Assessment Tools for Nursing Schools in Iran and their Ranking in 2004

Introduction: Recognizing the strengths and weaknesses of schools through comparison of their educational services status, is one of the effective ways in determining their present situations. In other words, educational ranking of institutions and introducing the best models, is the requisite for short-term and long-term plannings regarding qualitative and quantitative improvement of schools. The aim of this study was to develop a tool for studying the qualitative and quantitative status of educational services in nursing schools and ranking them through this tool. Methods: In a survey study, a set of criteria for investigating educational services was developed based on a tree diagram model. Then, the weignt of these criteria was determined through consensus making method. A representative from each school was introduced to complete the questionnaire. Through visiting the schools, the data was completed and revised. Subsequently, the score of every individual school was estimated for each criterion. A computer software was exploited to perform the final analysis. Results: In order to investigate the educational services provided in nursing education, a set of more than 60 criteria and indicators in three subsets of input, process, and output were designed and their weights were also determined. The first rank belonged to nursing discipline in School of Nursing and Midwifery of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences with the score of 65.15 out of 100 School of Nursing and Midwifery of Tehran University of Medical Sciences with the score of 62.59 out of 100 owned the secon rank and the third rank belonged to School of Nursing and Midwifery of Iran University of Medical Sciences with the score of 59.76 out of 100. Conclusion: Having this project carried out, the strengths and weaknesses of educational services provided in nursing field were defined, and presented to administrators and educational managers as a practical model for qualitative and quantitative improvements

Designing, implementing and evaluating the education program ‘tele- continuing postpartum care’ in the family health internship of master\'s midwifery students

Background & Objective: Changing the type of care in the family health internship curriculum towards continuing care programs can lead to the development of the professional identity of learners. This study was conducted with the aim of designing, implementing and evaluating a tele-continuous care program after delivery for midwifery students. Materials & Methods: In this educational process, each student under the direction of the support team was responsible for the continuing care of his client for 6 weeks after delivery. The program was designed based on Taylor's curriculum development model and the evaluation of learners was done by qualitative interviews and completion of portfolios during the course at two levels of reaction and learning Kirkpatrick's model. Results: Data in the three main categories was categorized as  "learning", "continuous care" and "health provider" with sub-categories include new concept of postpartum period, knowing more about the profession of midwifery, improving communication skills with the client, strengthening the student's self-confidence, eagerness to learn, new experience of taking history, not being judged by others, daring to ask questions, synergy of knowledge, walking in mother's shoes, increasing intimacy, anticipating upcoming issues, availability, ability of follow-up, sense of pleasantness, sense of support,  earlier familiarization of the client with the conditions ahead, trust of the client and more motivation to provide service. Conclusion: It appears that placing midwifery students in a continuing care model will provide them the opportunity to experience a rich holistic learning

Instructional Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of an E-Learning System, an Experience in Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: Designing e-learning systems based on the principles and prerequisites of teaching and learning theories requires a comprehensive and systematic approach to instructional design procedure. An experience of instructional design, implementation and evaluation of an e-learning system is represented in this study. Methods: In the present action research study, five steps of systematic instructional design, including analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation, were performed in Tehran University of Medical Sciences for developing an e-learning system. The principles and prerequisites of teaching and learning procedure were identified. Then the supportive learning management system was designed and related regulations which were approved in associated university councils were developed. Faculty development workshops were held for e-teachers. This procedure was completed during 2007-2009. Results: Master degree program on medical education was chosen as the first discipline and 25 students enrolled in two academic years. The application of system as a supportive pedagogical instrument began by 44 faculty members who used the system for 450 students. Students' and teachers' evaluation of system showed their high satisfaction (88%). None of the students dismissed the course. Conclusion: A systematic instructional design before launching e-learning systems or purchasing softwares may guarantee its success. University's used the evaluation results for further revisions and updates of the system

Educational Ranking of Rehabilitation Sciences Programs in Iran

Objective: After two decades of nomber expansion of universities of medical sciences and increasing the number of students as one of the most attainable solutions for the problem of substandard status of Iranian community health, recently, the quality-based policies in medical education have taken priority over most of the national health plans. The goal is determine differences in the field of education between schools providing rehabilitation sciences programs in Iran by stratifying their educational services. Materials & Methods: To measure the educational performance of rehabilitation sciences programs nationwide, a benchmarking tool, consisting of aboute 50 indicators, was devised. Their values were defined through consensus developing methods. Each school was asked to introduce a representative who would complete a questionnaire, which was designed to collect schools’ information. In the next step, all the divisions were visited by one of the project’s members and the school’s representative. Then, data retrieval was performed and verified at the project’s office. Finally, a special computer software was exploited to perform the final analysis. Results: Schools providing rehabilitation sciences programs were stratified based on their individual scores. Furthermore, all schools were also ranked in each indicator. Among schools providing bachelor’s rehabilitation sciences programs, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences gained the first rank, with the score of 73.41 out of 100 Iran Rehabilitation School was the second with the score of 70.91 and Tehran Rehabilitation School gained the third rank with the score of 68.91. Conclusion: This study defines the educational strengths and weaknesses of rehabilitation sciences programs in Iran that could be used as a measure for authorities to devise practical strategies for qualitative and quantitative improvement