Technopedagogy at the MUHC: Designing Better Learning for Healthcare Professionals
At the MUHC, technopedagogy is an area of expertise that is still not widely known, but it is essential to developing staff skills. At the heart of this practice are professionals like Stephen Phung, an Instructional Designer in the Human Resources Directorate.
What Does an Instructional Designer Do?
Instructional designers are training specialists. Their role is to transform content into structured, effective learning experiences that are adapted to real-world practice.
Supporting Healthcare Education Across Quebec
Many professionals at the MUHC have completed training on long COVID and medical assistance in dying. These courses are offered through the digital learning environment (ENA) portal of the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services as part of the continuing professional development available to healthcare staff across the province.
Stephen contributed to the design of these training programs. In his role as a learning technologist with the MUHC’s Shared Continuing Education team, he is responsible for analysing, developing, evaluating, and updating educational programmes that address province-wide training needs among healthcare professionals.
Designing Engaging and Inclusive Learning Experiences
It’s a diverse field. Some specialize in technological tools, while others focus on teaching strategies. For Stephen, his background in graphic design and administration, combined with his experience working with child development professionals, leads him to place particular attention on the quality of the learning experience: training that is dynamic, engaging, accessible, and inclusive.
His work is also based on research-validated approaches, ensuring that training does not simply focus on transmitting information, but enables genuine skills development.
The Role of Technopedagogy in Professional Development
This pedagogical design practice, both a science and an art, aims to create learning pathways that are meaningful and integrated into the professional practice of our hospitals.
By making training more relevant and accessible, technopedagogy plays a key role in the continuous improvement of practices and, ultimately, in the quality of care provided to the population.