Background The purpose of the study was to describe the design, implementation and evaluation of a flipped classroom teaching approach in physiotherapy education. The flipped classroom is a blended learning approach in which students receive digital lectures as homework, while active learning activities are used in the classroom. Flipped classroom teaching enables a learning environment that aims to develop higher-order cognitive skills. Methods The study design was a historically controlled, prospective, cohort study. An eight week theoretical course on musculoskeletal disorders was redesigned, moving from a conventional approach to a flipped classroom model. Pre-class learning material consisted of about 12 h of video lectures and other digital learning resources that were split up over the duration of the course. In-class activities consisted of seven full-day seminars where students worked in groups in order to solve problem-based assignments. The assignments were designed to reflect authentic clinical problems and required critical thinking and reasoning. Outcomes were measured with course-grades and compared with historical controls of conventional teaching, using descriptive statistics. Self-perceived learning outcomes and students’ experiences were also collected in a survey. Results Fifty-one students passed the course exam, two failed and one did not attend ( n = 54). The share of students with Excellent, Very good and Good (ABC) performances increased by more than 10% relative to any previous year. In addition, Satisfactory, Sufficient and Failed performances (DEF) decreased by more than 10%. Almost two thirds of the students preferred the flipped classroom approach as compared with conventional teaching. Interaction with peers and educators, and flexibility, were the most positive factors that were reported by students. Long seminars, time-constraints and low motivation with respect to preparation and educators’ roles were the most common complaints. Conclusions A flipped classroom approach in physiotherapy education resulted in improved student performances in this professional programme, when compared with conventional teaching. Students responded positively to the collaborative learning environment, especially with respect to the associated autonomy and flexibility. There were indicators that all groups did not work optimally and that accountability to other group members did not always ensure pre-classroom preparations.

Background Digital learning designs have the potential to support teaching and learning within higher education. However, the research on digital learning designs within physiotherapy education is limited. This study aims to identify and investigate the effectiveness of digital learning designs in physiotherapy education. Methods The study was designed as a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and non-randomized trials. A search of eight databases on digital learning designs and technology was conducted. Study selection, methodology and quality assessment were performed independently by three reviewers. The included studies were mapped according to the types of digital interventions and studies. For similar interventions, the learning effects were calculated using meta-analyses. Results Altogether, 22 studies were included in the review (17 randomized controlled trials and five cohort studies). A blended learning design was used in 21 studies, a flipped classroom model in five and a distance learning design in one. Altogether, 10 of the 22 articles were included in meta-analyses, which showed statistically significant effects for flipped classrooms on knowledge acquisition (standardized mean difference [SMD]: 0.41; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.20, 0.62), for interactive websites or applications (apps) on practical skills (SMD: 1.07; 95% CI: 0.71,1.43) and for students self-produced videos on a practical skill in a cervical spine scenario (SMD: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.93). Overall, the effects indicated that blended learning designs are equally as or more effective than traditional classroom teaching to achieve learning outcomes. Distance learning showed no significant differences compared to traditional classroom teaching. Conclusions The current findings from physiotherapy education indicate that digital learning designs in the form of blended learning and distance learning were equally or more effective compared to traditional teaching. The meta-analyses revealed significant effects on student learning in favour of the interventions using flipped classrooms, interactive websites/apps and students self-produced videos. However, these results must be confirmed in larger controlled trials. Further, research should investigate how digital learning designs can facilitate students’ learning of practical skills and behaviour, learning retention and approaches to studying as well as references for teaching and learning in digital learning environments.

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In higher education, resistance to shifting educational methods presents a challenge in fulfilling the opportunities offered by new methods. The purpose of the present study is to document the experiences of a flipped classroom intervention in a Norwegian physiotherapy programme, from the perspectives of the students and the teachers. The findings demonstrate that the students' attitudes were mainly positive. In particular, the students evaluated autonomous group work and unlimited access to digital material as positive. The academic outcomes from the final exam were similar to previous years. Interviews with the teachers showed that the learning environment associated with the group work in the flipped classroom was a different and highly appreciated experience. In conclusion, the present study indicates that there is potential in implementing digital approaches in physiotherapy programmes.

Background: The extent that digital learning designs can improve learning outcomes has been increasingly emphasized in higher education over the last decade, but the research within physiotherapy education is limited. This study identified different types of digital learning designs and their effectiveness in physiotherapy education. Methods: The study was designed as a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and non-randomized trials. A search of eight databases on digital teaching and learning technology was conducted. Study selection, methodology and quality assessment were performed independently by three reviewers. The included studies were mapped according to the types of digital interventions and studies. For interventions that were similar, the learning effects were calculated using meta-analysis. Results: Fifteen randomized and five control trials were included in the review; 8 of 20 articles were included in the meta-analysis. The main digital learning designs were blended learning, flipped classrooms, e-learning course designs and Mobil learning designs (apps) using different digital tools, software and learning platforms. The evidence from two meta-analysis showed statistically significant effects: flipped classrooms on knowledge acquisition, SMD of 0.41 (95% CI 0.20, 0.62) and websites (apps) on practical skills, SMD of 1.06 (95% CI 0.70, 1.42). A meta-analysis of website and knowledge acquisition favoured traditional teaching, SMD of -0.59 (95% CI -1.20, 0.03), but this was not statistically significant. Overall, the effects indicated that digital learning designs are more or equally effective than traditional classroom teaching for achieving learning outcomes. Conclusions The findings of this review show various use of digital learning designs in physiotherapy education, ranging from e-learning using digital learning resources to more complex and coherent flipped learning designs. The results indicate that these designs improved or was equal effective compared to traditional classroom teaching. The meta-analysis revealed a significant effect on student learning in favour of flipped classrooms and websites (apps). However, these results must be confirmed in larger controlled trials or randomized controlled trials. Further research should investigate how digital learning designs can be used to facilitate students’ learning of practical skills and behaviour as well as learning retention, learning approaches and preferences for studying in digital learning environments.

Helseprofesjonene møter i økende grad pasienter, brukere og pårørende som trenger kunnskap om hvordan de kan leve best mulig med langvarige helseutfordringer. Det mangler imidlertid studier av hvordan laereplanene for helseprofesjonsutdanningene imøtekommer behovene i helsetjenesten for helsepedagogisk kompetanse. I denne artikkelen undersøker vi hvordan helsepedagogikk fremtrer i laereplaner til bachelorutdanningene i ergoterapi, sykepleie og fysioterapi. En summativ innholdsanalyse viser at det er en manglende sammenheng mellom laereplandokumenter på ulike nivå (ramme-, program-, og emneplaner) og mellom didaktiske kategorier som mål, innhold, arbeids-og undervisningsformer. Artikkelen avslutter med å vise til behov for videre forskning.

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Background: Digital learning designs have the ability to support teaching and learning within higher education. However, the research on digital learning designs within physiotherapy education is limited. This study aims to identify and investigate the effectiveness of digital learning designs in physiotherapy education.Methods: The study was designed as a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and non-randomized trials. A search of eight databases on digital learning designs and technology was conducted. Study selection, methodology and quality assessment were performed independently by three reviewers. The included studies were mapped according to the types of digital interventions and studies. For similar interventions, the learning effects were calculated using meta-analyses.Results: Altogether, 22 studies were included in the review (17 randomized controlled trials and five cohort studies). A blended learning design was used in 21 studies, a flipped classroom model in five and a distance learning design in one. Altogether, 10 of the 22 articles were included in meta-analyses, which showed statistically significant effects for flipped classrooms on knowledge acquisition (standardized mean difference [SMD]: 0.41; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.20, 0.62) and for interactive websites or applications (apps) on practical skills (SMD: 1.07; 95% CI: 0.71,1.43). The meta-analysis of different interactive websites/apps on knowledge acquisition favoured traditional teaching (SMD: 0.51; 95% CI:-0.80,1.82), but this was not statistically significant. Overall, the effects indicated that blended learning designs are equally as or more effective than traditional classroom teaching to achieve learning outcomes. Distance learning showed no significant differences compared to traditional classroom teaching.Conclusions: The results indicate that digital learning designs in the form of blended learning and distance learning were equally or more effective compared to traditional teaching in physiotherapy education. The meta-analysis revealed a significant effect on student learning in favour of flipped classrooms and interactive websites/apps. However, these results must be confirmed in larger controlled trials. Further, research should investigate how digital learning designs can facilitate students’ learning of practical skills and behaviour, learning retention and approaches to studying as well as references for teaching and learning in digital learning environments.