DESIGNING A PUBLIC HEALTH COURSE: COMPETENCY-BASED APPROACH, ACTIVE LEARNING METHODS, AND DIGITAL ASSESSMENT

Abstract

Introduction. Public health as an interdisciplinary field of knowledge and professional practice requires modernization of specialist training to ensure readiness for work under conditions of complexity and uncertainty, the ability to apply evidence-based approaches, communicate effectively with stakeholders, and implement preventive and health promotion interventions at the community level. In these circumstances, traditional didactics focused mainly on reproductive learning does not provide the formation of the necessary competencies. The purpose of the study. To substantiate and present a model of a public health training course that integrates the competency-based approach, active learning methods, and digital assessment tools. Materials and methods. The study was conducted in the format of a descriptive and methodological analysis and pedagogical design of an academic discipline. The methods included an analysis of regulatory and methodological documents and scientific sources, as well as a systematization of approaches to learning tools and assessment methods. Results and discussion. A framework of the educational component “Strategies and Methods of Teaching Public Health” was proposed, including blocks of modern didactics, competency-based approach, instructional design, active and interactive learning, problem-based learning and case method, project-based learning and community work, digital pedagogy, and academic integrity. A key element of summative assessment is defined as a modular test in the format of a digital portfolio implemented through the creation by the learner of a Google Classroom with a modular structure, assignments, testing, rubrics, and academic integrity policies. Conclusions. The presented course model ensures the development of pedagogical and professional competencies of Master’s students in public health through the integration of active learning, practice-oriented tasks, and digital assessment tools, and can be recommended for implementation in Master’s level public health educational programmes.