Power of Distance Education to Improve Nursing Leadership Competencies for ASEAN Nurses: Lesson Learned from an STOU s Online Course

Transcription

1 1 Power of Distance Education to Improve Nursing Leadership Competencies for ASEAN Nurses: Lesson Learned from an STOU s Online Course Boontip Siritarungsri, RN, PhD School of Nursing, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) Chaengwattana Rd. Bangpood, Pakkret, Nonthaburi Thailand address: boontip.sir@stou.ac.th, boontip@gmail.com Accepted subtheme: Challenges of Distance Education Abstract Online learning is a form of distance education that provides learners with opportunities to engage in lifelong learning for human resources development in terms of leadership competencies regardless of the restrictions of time and place. To formally celebrate the approaching ASEAN community in December of 2015, School of Nursing at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), introduced a four-month online course for the first of its kind entitled Leadership Development and Change Management for Nurse Executives in ASEAN Countries. Participants who were nurse executives and worked in ASEAN countries, including Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Loas enrolled in this course. The online course included an interactive online learning that successfully encouraged participants to be self directed learner. To add more value of the course insight, a-three day intensive seminar was arranged on STOU campus at the end of the course for knowledge sharing among participants and empowering nursing leadership competencies as well as building up network among ASEAN nurses. Study findings suggested that distance education is an effective learning media that enables participants to balance their learning with personal and work commitments. The effective online courses could not only improve nurses leadership competencies but also build up strong and widen social connection among nurses in ASEAN countries as well as provide the richness of course content. The purpose of this paper is to present the lesson learned how and why distance education has become powerful to improve nursing leadership competencies for Nurses in ASEAN community. Keywords: STOU, Distance Education, Nursing Leadership Competencies, Online Course

2 2 Introduction The establishment of STOU can be deemed the opening of a truly modern university-one that enables those with the ability to seek knowledge and expertise to step forward into hold new horizons. It is clear that Thais are an intelligent people lacking only opportunities to expand their own knowledge and ability. They are an intelligent people who have shown that when given the chance to study at advances levels, theirs accomplishments are equal to and sometimes even surpass - the achievements of other civilized nations. It is therefore fitting to give all Thai people such as opportunity for further study (His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 1981) According to the King speech, over 35 years of the establishment of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), one of a public universities in Thailand that has offered diverse curriculums for higher education and short courses training for Thai people who live across Thailand and in overseas countries via distance education mode. In response to learners needs and keep pace with speedy technology, STOU has continuously focused on educational distance media initiative and development throughout 35 operating years. In the first decade of STOU founding, printed materials (text books and study guides) were used as the main media, while supportive media included electronic media, such as radio and television. Later more computerized media i.e. CAI, CD, and DVD were introduced in the second decade. At present, integrated educational media and more internet media have been considerably employed at STOU such as e-learning, e-tutorial, webcasting, e-orientation, media on demand, e-library, m- learning etc. (see more details at ). Figure 1 STOU online

3 3 To make studying at STOU distance education more meaningful, 3-5 days intensive seminars are compulsory arranged on STOU campus at the end of course. Prior to graduation, students are encouraged to attend the mentioned seminars for conceptualization of knowledge, sharing professional experience and skills, and promoting ethical and moral, leadership development, building relationship and network among students with STOU faculties. Expectedly, these activities would tighten students ties with their beloved university. For similar reason, the developed online course therefore comprised both online interactive learning and face-to-face intensive seminar so as to fulfill the study requirement. It is STOU s pride, due to a number of researches supported that STOU s graduates, and including graduate nurses qualifications significantly increased. Having improved their career paths, they determined to apply their knowledge and skills to improve their organizations and society, while working and studying in their workplaces. Today s success is made possible because of educational opportunities offered by STOU, said by most graduates. From the above, STOU has successfully demonstrated its powerful distance learning. Recently, STOU offered an online course in distance education mode for ASEAN nurses to celebrate the approaching ASEAN community in December of The purpose of this paper is to present the lesson learned how and why distance education has become powerful to improve nursing leadership competencies for Nurses in ASEAN community. Purpose of the paper The purpose of this paper is to present the lesson learned how and why distance education has become powerful to improve nursing leadership competencies for Nurses in ASEAN community. How to create the STOU s online course for ASEAN nurses to improve nursing leadership competencies At the end of 2015, ASEAN member countries will combine into ASEAN Community, building a regional society for their population to live altogether in a kinship manner in the same family. Nursing profession is one of the seven key services which has been accelerated by ASEAN Community to combine together toward internationally top of the global quality service. In this regard, an agreement on ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Nursing Services (ASEAN MRA) was reached in principle that nurses who meet required qualifications are eligible to register or apply for nurse license to work in other ASEAN countries under law and regulations in those countries. In this respect, nursing personnel development, in particular leadership competency is necessary in ASEAN region. Based on nursing experiences in higher education and short course training development from working at STOU for 30 years, the author initiated a 4-month online course entitled Leadership Development and Change Management for Nurse Executives in ASEAN Countries (LCM project) The online course was then developed as a research by the research and development method. Divided into 2 phases in order to serve two research purposes, the research included the online course development and the evaluation of the online course.

4 4 Phase I: The online course development With accumulated work experiences in distance education of the author as STOU course team, a team was formed up to create the online course. The team members consisted of 5 researchers; 2 team members and 3 experts from Thailand, France and Singapore. The designed online course included (1) an interactive online learning, and (2) a-three day face to face intensive seminar.74 participants were recruited by purposive sampling from nurse executives and registered nurses in five ASEAN member countries namely Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Laos PDR. LCM website for interactive online learning was firstly created for supporting participants learning, sharing their knowledge and valuable experiences. This illustrated as Figure below ( Figure 2: LCM website All participants registered to attend the interactive online course and conducted three activities as follows. Firstly, a number of 74 participants learned by attending online modules, learning one module weekly and then provided reflection on each module under supervision of LCM team as facilitator. Secondly, participants jointly shared their knowledge enhanced from their learning as well as experiences together in the Knowledge Sharing forum. Lastly, each participant developed a mini innovative project or creative work task based on the project component. Later on, only 38 participants came to STOU campus for the 3 day- face to face intensive seminar upon completion of the three activities. According to one of the intensive seminar activity, all participants would work on group and conceptualize the Leadership Competencies for Nurse Executives in ASEAN Community that is described into three domains, Knowledge, Practice (Skill), and Attitude as below. Knowledge: Nurse Executives in ASEAN community must have competency of leadership knowledge as follows. 1) Transcultural nursing, 2) Research and innovation, 3) Information communication technology (ICT), and 4) Legal, ethic, policy, and health act regulations.

5 5 Skills: Nurse Executives in ASEAN community must have competency of leadership skills as follows. 1) Communication, interpersonal relationship, and language skills. 2) Leadership skills, and 3) Managerial and administrative skills. Attitude: Nurse Executives in ASEAN community must have competency of leadership attitude as follows. 1) ASEAN Vision, 2) Having an Intelligence-Moral-Emotional-Quotients (IME-Qs), 3) Professionally global, and 4) Global perspective and mind set. More details of the nursing leadership competencies is presented on Module 10 at ) The research found that the online course comprised of 4 components, Input, Process, Output and Outcome as Figure 2. It is illustrated that ASEAN leadership competencies for nurses is one of the research outcome as below. Input: Content modules - LCM website: - Resource persons - Facilitators Process: -Participants interaction on Knowledge Sharing forum - Participation on face to face intensive seminar Output: - Knowledge and experiences enhancement - Course satisfaction (online & F to F) Innovative task work/mini project Outcome: -ASEAN leadership competencies for nurses - ASEAN nurses Network - an innovative online training course Figure 2 Component of the online course Source: Adaption from Siritarungsri et al. (2014) Phase II: The online course evaluation The descriptive statistics and content analysis were used to analyze data. It found that most participants who regularly attended the online course were satisfied with the course at high level. The course was also appropriate to utilize for nurse development in ASEAN countries, especially their leadership competencies. Further, the online learning enabled nurses to overcome cultural barriers and built up strong and widened social connection among nurses throughout ASEAN region. However, from the interactive online learning, following problems were found in modules accessibility i.e. poor local infrastructure technology, self-disciplined of learners, limitation of language and culture in communication. In addition, a face to face intensive seminar was arranged on STOU campus at the end of the course for knowledge sharing among participants and empowering nursing leadership competencies as well as building up network among ASEAN nurses that significantly added more value of the course insight.

6 6 Why the STOU online course became powerful to improve nursing leadership competencies for Nurses in ASEAN community The author collected the data obtained from various sources of participants data, including communication from 12 participants on Knowledge Sharing forum, 2 responses admiring the author, and from 10 participants questionnaires developed previously by the author in response to the question why and how the STOU online course became powerful to improve nursing leadership competencies for Nurses in ASEAN community. Then data was analyzed by using content analysis technique. To answer how and why distance education has become powerful to improve nursing leadership competencies for Nurses in ASEAN community, the 3 themes emerged as follows; powerful online course, need of ASEAN nurses in 21st century, and building up network among ASEAN participants. 1. Powerful Interactive Online Course Most participants totally agreed that STOU distance education using online course as educational media suited ASEAN nurses who lived far away from each other, under work commitment, and time constraint. The arrangement of the model was also well organized from general to be more specific enabling them to gain knowledge and skills. The knowledge and experience from an interactive online learning also could be applied into practice immediately and truly gave benefits to participants and their organizations. In addition, a-three day intensive seminar that was arranged on STOU campus at the end of the course for knowledge sharing among participants and empowering nursing leadership competencies as well as building up network among ASEAN nurses was very useful. Concludingly, the course demonstrated that STOU online course mixed modes between an interactive online learning and a-three day face to face intensive seminar supported and helped participants reaching their ultimate goals. Examples of their expressions are: Distance learning facilitated and gave participants opportunity to learn in any where and any time, also enhance knowledge and vision development (Thais 1) It was a very excellent and accessible program that brought lot of valuable not only transcultural knowledge and experiences. It gave rich of administrative and management knowledge from variety guest speakers. In addition, I could learn and practice whenever I needed. (Thais 4) The course made me enhancing knowledge and skills that could be applied into practice. (Myanmese 1) I think that studying via distance education of LCM project 2014 was the best in my life, it made me alert all the time. I have more communication skills, good decision making, and success in sharing my knowledge to other participants in each module. Every module has more useful for everybody for learning, sharing, helping to each other are very important to bring us to the goal of this project. I like to share and reflect my opinion to other participants after listening to each module. I was got warm welcome from LCM team. Therefore, I would like to invite everyone study the online course in the next future. (Thais 5) Finally, this course is well organized, simple to complex, general to specific and very comprehensive. It is very useful and could be improve leadership skill and change management skill. I received more benefits from this course and I can apply my workplace under responsibility and anywhere any setting. (Myanmese 2) For me, the main advantage of this online learning is that it allows learners to participate in high quality learning situations from anywhere in the world provided they have a

7 7 computer and Internet connection. In this course, participants have opportunities to read all of other participants' reflections. In this way, participants can control their own learning and experiences an shape the reflections to meet their own specific needs.(thais 5) The online intensive learning served as a room for ASEAN nurses working together, such as sharing their knowledge and experiences as well as gain their new knowledge from each Module that presented by international expertise. The face to face intensive seminar is also enhance knowledge from international resource person from aboard and Thai that led nurse worked together on the same way and reach to international view. the knowledge and experiences from the online course had been empowered and made me receiving national award. This is a wonderful course. (Thais 2) Using online course supports nurses to learn and share both knowledge and experience among ASEAN nurses and in anywhere and anytime, and works concurrently. The course also improve participants listening skills during study each module, and practice writing English on the Knowledge Sharing forum. Further the online interactive course saved participants cost for traveling and accommodation.(thais 4) The arrangement of the model was well organized from general to more specify. After graduation from the online course, I strong believe that we can change if we have positive thinking and prepare our staff nurses to be a good leader in order to achieving the goal of our organization. (Thais 3) The learning occurs in convenience and flexibility situations. We are not constraint to fixed time and classroom situation. The learning can take place at our own time and the extensive of learning is depends on the individual. It is also ideal for part-time learners as the learner can participate at her convenience instead of being limited to participating at the designated location and the time when a class is offered. This is an especially important benefit to nurses who work shifts that potentially preclude them from attending traditional classes. The knowledge and shared by each of us from other locations or country through online discussions do benefits us and broadened our thinking. It helps to diversify our knowledge. Distance learning which occurs through online approach also benefits us writing skills. This allows more thinking process that enhance knowledge development as they may reflect on what they going to write or what they have written, therefore they are actually more engaged in the learning process. (Malaysian 2) The tight among nurses from regional area also facilitate sharing of knowledge and towards developing ASEAN nursing, which has open opportunity for regional collaboration. Enable to lead a research project better, in terms of planning implementing and evaluating the project. (Malaysian1) Because this program was very handful arrange in curriculum, exercise and activities. These provided great opportunities for me to learn and share with our class both face to face and online interactive course. (Thai 4) I would like to say big congratulations to the success of LCM. It s my great pleasure and a valuable chance to become a participant of this program. So I deeply appreciated to (Myanmese 6) During Face to face interaction, I have got more understanding of specific skill that I need to develop. (Myanmese5) For face to face seminar, we learned more about how to develop competency of nurse executives in ASEAN community. We enjoyed to share our views and opinions to each other. So if STOU will offer next training course of this topic again, I would like to see more ASEAN nurses from Indonesia, Brunei, Loas, Cambodia, Singapore, and Philippine join the program with us.(thais 5) It is very useful and improve leadership skill and change management skill. I received more benefits from this course and I can apply my workplace under responsibility and anywhere any setting.(myanmese 4)

8 8 I would like to thank a project leader, and all dedicated project teams who contributed to the online course. All the problems and concerns that I raised and sent to the teams were promptly responded. Following up s that sent to participants regularly were very encouraging and showing that the teams were interested to know how we were doing. Your dedication to work has shown us your leadership and change management skills, and that is very impressive.(thais 12) 2. Need of ASEAN nurses in 21 st century Most participants supported that having studied the online course encouraged them empower leadership in knowledge domain, skills domain and positive attitude domain that was a need of ASEAN nurses in the 21 st century. Our country needs to change leadership styles to improve professional status. Leaders of our country need to attend this course and change and apply the other ASEAN countries leadership styles. Need to change status of nursing from followers to leaders. (Myanmese 3) This project has covered very comprehensive information related to leadership development and change management, the module video were very interactive and facilitate self-directed learning skills that promote lifelong learning skills, which will definitely benefit the nurses leader and to develop leadership competencies.(malaysian 1) I get more knowledge and experiences from the instructors and my colleagues who come from ASEAN countries, such as leadership development and change management, leadership styles, ICT, Leadership skills, Transcultural nursing I have a chance to comprehend the theory from the teachers of Thailand, Australia, Singapore, and France who have a huge knowledge and experiences in nursing field. (Myanmese 7) Today my hospital also changes in Vision, Organization set up, Technology, Market condition and a lot of competitions. We, our nurses must develop in nurse competency but also leadership skill in order to handle the above changes. Finally, I would like to say I have got the nursing administration innovation skill and I will apply my knowledge, skill and changed attitude in my organization in order to success. According to our new vision, we are planning to achieve international quality and then reach to premier national healthcare network with presence across the country and godly compassion which are affordable and accessible health care to all socio economic segments. I would like to share the leadership competency for nurse executives in ASEAN country. (Thais 22) the distance learning has enabled me to communicate more effectively with my employer and more competence in organizing events and administrative work. I was able to plan my word better, and more willing to accept the work delegate to me more confidents. Better decision maker ion handling difficult situation, example dueling with students affair. The interactive on line learning has provided useful information and enlightens my knowledge in leadership at regional area which integrated the cultural value within the nursing leaders.(malaysian1) Offering an online course for self-study, which consisted of participants from many countries, is a great deal of change in area of nursing. I would like to say that as you run the project, you have shown us how to be a great leader by showing how to work as a leader. We have learned from the best, which I think this is a great opportunity for me-- learning from the best. This course is a great success! I hope you continue to offer this kind of course to help nurses improve their knowledge and skills in leadership as well as other areas of expertise. (Thais 12) Today, our hospitals change day by day, through this program, I had changed health care module. This was extremely challenging for me but I still believe in it because I was so lucky to have found this program and learned so much to be able to change my currently management

9 9 plans. I would love to thank Assoc. Prof. Dr Boontip had given me a chance to study in this course and thank to fellow participants for your experiences, so that I have enough knowledge to pursue further into my management now and in the future. I want to contribute these knowledge for nurse managers in Vietnam.(Vietnamese 1) Then we learned more about how to develop leadership competency of nurse executives in ASEAN community by group work, team activities and interaction with others. And we presented best practice on Leadership competencies for nurse executives in ASEAN countries by three groups respectively. (Myanmese 3) 3. Building network and relationships among ASEAN nurses The STOU online course in distance education served as a central room that enabled and strengthened participants to build up community of practices in sustainability way. A number of participants expressed their impressive experiences as follows. Further the online course helped us to build up network among ASEAN nurses. (Thais2) support self- management in term of time, and give opportunities to learn/ share knowledge and culture with other nurses in ASEAN country that led nurses could work together on internet. (Thais2) Through distance education, nurses still have the opportunity to connect and network with each other online. The online setting also allows us to network with other course mates and facilitators from across the country and potentially around the world. This gives opportunities for us to know what s happening beyond our local practice.(malaysian 2) Finally, I had more opportunity to know and build up network, relationship with other participants in ASEAN when attended face to face intensive seminar. (Thais4) LCM project make me happy and glad to meet all of participants in ASEAN country (T3) We meet and know each other and good relationship is the best. and plan to visit other participants in each country. (Thais 6) I think this course is useful for me and not finish now, it begins for networking between ASEAN nurses. I will apply the knowledge in workplace and share with my colleagues in my office. I hope I have another chance to meet all of you. (Myanmese 6) During Face to face interaction, I have got more understanding of specific skill that I need to develop.i would like to thank to Dr Pattaya who is Facilitator of Group 3. What more, our group many vocational activity but also providing body system, I like and thank to my body Ms Sunthara who treat me as a good friend too. We thank to have assign team member of nurse executives network Mrs Lin Lin Khinewho is team member of ASEAN nurse network (On line community ) (Myanmese5) I like another section is ICE breaking activity and building networking among ASEAN nurse executives by Assit. Prof Dr Aree Cheevakasemsook and Asst.Prof Dr Premruetai from LCM team. I have an opportunity to talk own conversation to each other. (Myanmese 3) This platform have created very good networking among regional nurses especially ASEAN. It has opened the door for future collaboration and building our own support at the region. I sincerely hope to see more collaboration acidities following this project. (Malaysian 1) We keep contacting our LCM participants although the research project was terminated. I just invited LCM participants from Malaysia to visit our nursing college. We planned to do exchange staff and students in the near future. (Thais 8) Thanks to the project leader to open the LCM website for us to keep self-directed learning and contacting with our ASEAN friends until now.(thais 3)

10 10 Discussion In 21st century distance education, online teaching and learning has emerged Internet- based learning that delivery content and enables communication between instructors and students. (Cleveland-Innes, 2010: 2) According to the statements of Cleveland-Innes and Garrison, the lesson learned from online learning in this study, referred to delivery of a distance course leading to participants satisfaction, in terms of user-friendly interactive learning style on the LCM website. Such internet-based learning truly corresponded to the 21st century learning. Cleveland-Innes further supported that online learning based on the internet that provides synchronous and asynchronous communication in person and group environment that support integration of connectivity. The support related to this study in terms of STOU online course enabled Building network and relationships among ASEAN nurses. However, Anderson (2004) indicated that interactions that occur in online settings differ from face to face discussions. Most of the online interactions, including learner-to-instructor, learner to learner, and learner to content, are asynchronous, which may reduce the extent of communication, delay replies, and require additional time and effort in preparing responses. In contrast, from this study participants were quite satisfied with promptly reply from LCM project leader and team members. This can be considered a powerful aspect of the online course that brought satisfaction to participants. Further, the online content module produced by experts from various countries is also another powerful component to empower the online course that resulted participants satisfaction. Also the face to face intensive seminar provided an opportunity for participants from many countries to brainstorm and to creatively construct the leadership competencies for ASEAN nurses. This is the highlight of the powerful online course in the new era of education that very much associated with online sustainable communities of learners (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright & Zvacek 2012; Cleveland-Innes 2010) Conclusion & Recommendation Up to this point, the author s lesson learned from STOU s online course entitled Leadership Development and Change Management for Nurse Executives in ASEAN Countries had clearly reflected and proved the success of the online course to develop nursing leadership competencies for ASEAN Nurses. Because the components of powerful interactive online course could well respond to the need of ASEAN participants. It is highly recommended the developed online course should be widely implemented in ASEAN countries. However, further research is needed to address modules accessibility, poor local infrastructure, self-disciplined of learners, limitation of language and culture in communication. This supported by Bol & Garner, (2011) that although online education brings benefits to students, it leads many struggles with technical aspects of online courses. Students taking online courses therefore must be able to effectively how to use technology, and engage with peers and faculty (Richardson & Swan, 2003).

11 11 Acknowledgement Partially, this paper is presented based on my own experiences as a research project leader entitled The development of an online course on Leadership Development and Change Management for Nurse Executives in ASEAN Countries. I would like to deeply thank following kindly supports i.e. financial support from the National Budget for Thailand 2014 Fiscal Year, President of STOU for his supervision and active support, honored resources persons and all lovely participants. I would also like to express my special thanks to our research project team members; Asst. Prof. Dr.Premruetai Noimuenwai, Asst. Prof. Dr.Aree Cheevakasemsook, Dr.Pattaya Kaewsarn and Assoc. Prof. Dr.Somjai Puttapitakpol for their valued contribution. Research assistance by Ms. Wacharee Limungkoon and Ms. Sukanya Phromphon is much appreciated for their dedication and hard work. References: Anderson, T. (2004). Toward a theory of online learning. In Anderson, T. & Eilloumi, F. (eds.). Theory and practice of online learning. Canada: Athabasca University. Retrieved from Bol, L. & Garner,J.K. (2011).Challenges in supporting self-regulation in distance education environments. Journal of Computing in Higher Education. 23, Retrieved from Cleveland-Innes, M.F. (2010). Teaching and learning in Distance Education Enter a new Era. in Cleveland-Innes, M.F. & Garrison, D.R.(edits).An introduction to Distance Education understanding teaching and learning in a new era. New York: Routledge. Richardson, J. C. & Swan, K. (2003).Examining social presence in online courses in relation to students' perceived learning and satisfaction. Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks. 7 (1), Simonson, M. Smaldino,S. Albright, M & Zvacek,S. (2012).Teaching and Learning at a Distance: Foundations of Distance Education. 5 th ed. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc. Siritarungsri, B, Noimuenwai, P, Cheevakasemsook, A, Kaewsarn, P & Puttapitukpol, S (2014) The development of an Online Course on Leadership Development and Change Management for Nurse Executives in ASEAN Countries Proceedings Advancing Open and Distance Learning: Research and Practices, October 2014, the Open University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR, China. Songprakhun, W., Chong, M.C. & Prasopsil, S. (2014). Module 10: Developing Leadership Competencies for Nurse Executives in ASEAN Community. Retrieved from Leadership Development and Change Management for Nurse Executives in ASEAN Countries Website: Zhang, Yi (Leaf) (2013).Power Distance in Online Learning: Experience of Chinese Learners in U.S. Higher Education. Retrieved from