HLTHINFO 723 : Health Knowledge Management

Medical and Health Sciences

2021 Semester One (1213) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

The objective of this course is to develop an ability to analyse the role and dynamics of knowledge in the working environment in the health sector, and to develop aspects of knowledge infrastructure.

Course Overview

The course is structured into three sections. 
  • "Establishing context" sets the scene for your learning, and involves getting to know one another, learning about knowledge management concepts and paradigms, and establishing your preferred topic for your three assignments. This is preparation for assignment 1. 
  • "Linking your topic to knowledge management concepts" takes a look at the role of technology in knowledge management, and associated innovation and change management. In this section you link the literature about knowledge management to your topic. This is preparation for assignment 2.
  • "Your topic as knowledge management" takes a look at communities of practice, knowledge sharing, governance and strategy, and we look to the future of knowledge management. 
In this way the course aims to equip you to apply knowledge management concepts in the healthcare workplace to enhance the performance of our health system.  

Course Requirements

Restriction: POPLHLTH 723

Course Contacts

Course Director Dr Karen Day, k.day@auckland.ac.nz  Phone or text: 027 820 1125 

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Graduate Profile: Master of Health Sciences

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Identify, discuss and analyse knowledge management concepts (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1 and 2.2)
  2. Examine the application of knowledge management concepts in healthcare organisations, with the aim to improve health outcomes (Capability 3.1 and 4.1)
  3. Evaluate the role and value of technology for enabling knowledge management in healthcare organisations (Capability 3.1 and 5.1)
  4. Develop a community of practice among students and lecturers to enhance the use of knowledge management. (Capability 4.1, 5.1 and 5.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Report/research proposal/business case 30% Individual Coursework
Annotated Bibliography 30% Individual Coursework
Essay 40% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Report/research proposal/business case
Annotated Bibliography
Essay

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

Each week's 10 hours should consist of 

  1. Listening to recorded lectures/interviews/discussions/other resources
  2. Reading at least the required readings that have been listed. Reading widely will improve your learning experience and your assignment performance, so find extra readings that interest you and share them online with others in the course
  3. Organising and preparing for your assignments. The sooner you start the assignment preparation the better
  4. Allocate some time each week for the online discussion.  

Delivery Mode

Online

Attendance is expected at two scheduled online seminars to complete components of the course.
The course will include live online events including group discussions and tutorials and these will be recorded.
Attendance on campus is not required for the assessments.
Where possible, study material will be available at course commencement and some materials will be released progressively throughout the course in response to course discussions and external events and news.
This course runs to the University semester timetable and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.

Learning Resources

This course is delivered in online, or distance, mode. In other words, you will be able to complete the course without physically attending lectures, seminars or tutorials on campus.
This is how it works. 
  • The course is structured so that you'll experience paced, supported learning. This means that there is a timetable for covering the content.  
  • Make the most of the community of practice that can happen in this course, the online materials, and the online discussion forum to learn, and develop knowledge management insights and skills. 
  • The course will draw on the combined expertise of the students, and teaching staff from the Schools of Population Health, Business and Computer Science, together with invited speakers and contributors from the health sector, Ministry of Health, academia and industry.
The course is organised into three modules that reflect your learning. By the end of this course you will have progressed from a description of what you know well (topic of your choice) to your understanding of that topic in knowledge management terms.

The modules all have readings (some are marked as Required - you should always ensure that you are familiar with these). You can access all the readings electronically. This is the minimum reading required for each topic. You are required to conduct your own literature search for the assignments and online discussions. In addition, each of the modules has other resources to support your learning, e.g. Powerpoint presentations and voice recordings. In all cases you should engage in online discussion to get feedback from the lecturing team and from your class colleagues.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

The class of 2020 indicated that they found the course met their needs and they found the assessments useful. They enjoyed the online discussions with colleagues and making the connection between IT and health.  The challenges of the pandemic in 2020 affected their ability to manage their learning schedule but the flexibility of online learning in this course was helpful. They have asked that more background information is made available about how the New Zealand health system works - this has been added to the first week's materials for 2021 and the future. 

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.