DIGIHLTH 702 : Health Knowledge Management

Medical and Health Sciences

2024 Semester One (1243) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Analyses the role and dynamics of knowledge in the working environment in the health sector, and develops 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. This is preparation for assignment 3.
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: HLTHINFO 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: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Identify, discuss and analyse knowledge management concepts (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 8)
  2. Examine the application of knowledge management concepts in healthcare organisations, with the aim to improve health outcomes (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 6)
  3. Evaluate the role and value of technology for enabling knowledge management in healthcare organisations (Capability 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8)
  4. Develop a community of practice among students and lecturers to enhance the use of knowledge management. (Capability 1, 2, 6 and 7)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Case Studies 30% Individual Coursework
Annotated Bibliography 30% Individual Coursework
Presentation 40% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Case Studies
Annotated Bibliography
Presentation

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

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.

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, so do your best to keep up to date.  
  • 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 search of the literature 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 2023 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, health and knowledge management.  Some students suggested that we have prescheduled tutorials to discuss course content and assignments - we have done so for 2024. Some students asked for more diversity in the presentation of content. Some weeks' content has consisted of reading with an accompanying reflection guide. Some of these weeks' reading is now complemented by a short lecture about certain articles that are a challenging read. 

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 for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

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 course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

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 students may be asked to submit 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. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.