Hearing Loss in Children: Critical Medical Education Delivered as Massive Open Online Course (MOOC).
Sarah A Raven, Nicole M Mott, Nadine I Ibrahim and 6 others
PMID 38721311WHAT IT FOUND
A free pediatric hearing loss course reached 6,556 learners in three years, with 1,540 completing it.
Medical students said the shorter version improved their understanding of hearing loss, speech and language impact, and team care. It reports learner experience, not patient outcomes.
Key findings
01Over three years, 6,556 learners enrolled in the MOOC, 3,872 started it, and 1,540 fully completed it.
02In the two-week medical student elective, 101 students enrolled, quiz scores ranged from 80% to 100%, and 23 students completed the feedback survey.
03Among the 23 survey respondents, 22 said the course increased their understanding of types of hearing loss; all said it increased their understanding of auditory anatomy, pediatric audiological assessment, risk factors, speech and language impact, amplification options, and interdisciplinary balance care.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The paper reports learner enrollment, quiz performance, and self-reported understanding, not patient outcomes or changed clinical practice. The elective feedback came from 23 of 101 medical students, so it may not represent all learners. Attrition was high: 6,556 learners enrolled, 3,872 started, and 1,540 completed; the authors report a 23% retention rate and note attrition as a limitation. The course focuses on technology used in the United States and other high-income countries, while most children with hearing loss live in low- and middle-income countries, so clinical application may be limited by resources. No comparison group, objective pre-post knowledge change, or follow-up clinical assessment is reported for MOOC learners.
Declared interests
The supplied text reports support from the University of Michigan’s Center for Academic Innovation and hosting on Coursera, but no conflicts of interest or funding statement.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the high enrollment, 4.9 out of 5 rating, and self-reported understanding as evidence that the course improves clinical care or patient outcomes. The paper reports learner uptake and feedback, not tested clinical change.