Designing Interprofessional Online Learning Experiences for Future Healthcare Professionals

The design case details the collaborative work of a design team—three faculty members, one instructional designer, and one educational resource specialist—to create a simulation-based interprofessional education (IPE) experience for future healthcare professionals. Before the COVID-19 pandemic that caused the shutdown of campuses across the country/world, this simulation-based learning experience was always offered in a face-to-face format. Thus, this case highlights the challenges and opportunities of designing this online learning experience within a limited period of time. Further, this case documents what theories or evidence-based practices were instrumental in designing this learning experience, along with the design team’s narrative regarding key design decisions and moves. It also includes a design narrative focusing on the description of the design process, such as key design judgments, decisions, and concrete examples of the design process outcome. Lastly, the design case highlights unique design features: Scalability of instruction through accessibility and usability, authenticity, interprofessional collaboration, and reflection. The design was guided by the TEACH (Team Education Advancing Collaboration in Health) core curriculum in the state of Indiana that foregrounds interprofessional practice competencies and teamwork in preparing future healthcare professionals.