E-wellbeing and mental health in older adults through transnational education

Based on these questions, the eMeBe- project was formed to create a joint masters E-wellbeing and mental health in older adults. As a result of collaboration between four European universities, the aim is to develop master programme including virtual and blended cooperation and the use of different digital tools and online platforms.

Throughout the spring, progress has been made both in curriculum development and in the field of pedagogy. We have developed pedagogical perspectives on learner-centered models through virtual workshops and continued these discussions in face-to-face transnational meeting. This article specifically addresses the implementation of transdisciplinary education in this context.

The starting point has been to incorporate as much asynchronous learning content as possible, which can be completed independently of time and place. However, due to the focus on multidisciplinarity, there has also been a desire to include opportunities for genuine interaction. This can be organized concurrently online when feasible.

Collaborative approaches for transdisciplinary education

Students, entering the working life, face increasingly complex tasks, problems, and ambiguous information. Solving them often calls for insights and modes of thinking from several disciplines. Transdisciplinary education is needed, and it will be promoted within the program in several ways. In addition to multidisciplinary learning contents, it will be promoted by focusing on asynchronous (virtual) and synchronous (virtual or in-person) methods.

Online learning material creation

Implementing transdisciplinary education online requires thoughtful planning. It involves integrating insights and approaches from multiple disciplines to form a comprehensive material that support for analyzing complex questions. In other words, materially rich learning settings, designed to enhance interaction and negotiation, are needed.

The methods, which can be used for content creation, include e.g., case-based learning, problem-based learning or challenge-based learning. All of them involves presenting students with real-world scenarios or cases that span multiple disciplines. Choosing cases need to align with the transdisciplinary topics eMeBe wants to cover (e.g., the elderly, public mental health, urban planning, technology). The cases serve as a context for learning and problem-solving.

Implementing transdisciplinary education online requires thoughtful planning.

Further, various learning activities and exercises, that require integrating content from different disciplines, can be included to be studied independently. At the core of the pedagogically sound methods, however, lies the concept of transdisciplinary teams and their activities.

Interdisciplinary Teams

Students can be divided into small groups ensuring a balanced representation of backgrounds in health care, psychology and technology. When forming teams, there should be a focus in diversity in backgrounds, skills, experiences, and knowledge domains.

Each team are asked to establish their own ground rule by involving all team members in the process to ensure buy-in and ownership. By allowing teams to negotiate meeting times, it is possible to promote flexibility and adaptability in the learning process. Confidentiality and honor commitments to build trust over time is respected and open communication and transparency in all interactions prioritized.

1. Asynchronous virtual collaboration

• Online forums and discussion boards / collaborative Tools: In addition to Moodle, several platforms like Microsoft Teams communities, Google Workspace, Padlet etc can be utilized for asynchronous collaboration. Students can share documents, discuss ideas, and collaborate asynchronously depending on when they are studying.
• Asynchronous learning tasks based on the case method: Case studies integrating perspectives from health and technology fields will be employed. Students can be guided to search for research articles and other relevant material on industry advancements independently. They can be instructed to analyze and address key points from the material they read or watch, such as the ethical implications of e-mental health interventions.

Fostering transdisciplinary education involves creating an environment where students learn from each other, appreciate diverse viewpoints, and apply their combined expertise to tackle complex societal challenges. In diverse groups, decisions need to be justified more.

2. Synchronous (virtual) methods

• Live webinars and virtual lectures: Hosting real-time webinars or virtual lectures where experts from different disciplines share insights encourage transdisciplinary discussions during these sessions. Various types of interactive tools (e.g., polls, chat, breakout rooms) can be used to engage students.
• Virtual study groups / collaborative problem-solving sessions: For transdisciplinary study groups can be assigned tasks related to course content, such as, the request to design and implement an e-mental health application or chatbot, which requires understanding of both the possibilities brought by technology, aging, and e-mental health.
• Workshop with a specific focus, such as the workplace, whose needs and ongoing development projects can be used. Alternatively, experts from diverse backgrounds may be invited to share their insights if possible. These sessions may encompass topics like data privacy, user experience design, and evidence-based practices in mental health. Topics could also include telemedicine, privacy, gamification for mental well-being.

Conclusion

These issues not only affect the quality of life for the elderly but also pose significant burdens on healthcare systems and society as a whole.

To address these complex challenges, a transnational education approach that integrates health care, psychology, engineering, and social work is essential. This multidisciplinary strategy leverages the strengths and expertise of each field to create comprehensive solutions for improving mental health outcomes in the aging population.

Permanent address: http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2024101179950