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Empower Me: A List of MOOCs and Online Learning Opportunities for Healthcare Professionals

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MOOCWe’re only a few weeks into 2014, but already 60 percent have abandoned New Year’s resolutions. Behavior change is hard!

I wrote about this a few years ago: “BJ Fogg’s Tiny Habits: An Idea for mHealth App Success.” Now you have an opportunity to learn more about behavior change directly from Dr. Fogg online. Tomorrow, January 16th, you can participate in a Google Hangout on “Behavior Design” with BJ Fogg and patient Britt Johnson, from 6-7 pm PST.

This free event is part of a weekly course broadcast live by Stanford Medical School on patient engagement design called:  “Empower and Engage Me”. There is a corresponding chat on Twitter to involve virtual participants with the physical class using the #MedX hashtag.

Interesting MOOCs for Early 2014

If your goals for 2014 include taking advantage of online classes or MOOCs, this post is a list of resources. These classes are available online now, or in the spring of 2014, and may be of interest to healthcare and Health IT professionals.

What is a MOOC?

A MOOC is a “Massive Open Online Course” aimed at unlimited participation and open access via the web. Supported by top universities and colleges through web-based platforms, MOOCs offer a wide range of subjects. Many MOOCs are free when you audit a class, but some, like HarvardX, charge a fee for those who want to receive a “Certificate of Achievement” or assessments.

We are in an age of collective learning, and the concept of MOOCs is evolving. According to the Harvard Gazette, HarvardX is looking to reinvent MOOCs by using the web to enhance, rather than directly replicate, what happens in the classroom. “We are expanding our approach to not focus exclusively on semester-based, linear courses, but to now include entirely new and more flexible ways of teaching,” explains Robert Lue, faculty director of HarvardX.

Regina E. Herzlinger, the Nancy R. McPherson Professor of Business Administration at HBS, will teach, “Innovating in Health Care” for HarvardX (listed below.)

I view ‘Innovating in Health Care’ not as a course, but as an experience for entrepreneurial thinkers from business, health, public policy, and technology to come together and learn from us and each other. I expect that, by the end, several start-ups will be created. – Regina Herzlinger

LIST OF MOOCs FOR HEALTH CARE

BUS5.1x: Innovating in Health Care | HarvardX

Starts: Early 2014

An introduction to innovation in health care ventures is for those interested in entrepreneurial opportunities in healthcare technology, management, consulting, or investing. The course focuses on the impact of Financing, Structure, Public Policy, Consumers, Technology and Accountability on business models for three different kinds of innovations: consumer-focused, technology-driven, and integrations that create scale.

PH210x: United States Health Policy | HarvardX

Starts: Early 2014

A course to learn the essentials of U.S. health care policy from some of the nation’s top experts.

PH525x: Data Analysis for Genomics | HarvardX

Starts: Early 2014

Data Analysis for Genomics will cover how to harness the wealth of genomics data arising from new technologies, such as microarrays and next generation sequencing, in order to answer biological questions, both for basic cell biology and clinical applications.

Mobile Health Without Borders | Stanford

Starts: Jan. 24

This course focuses on cost-effective health care solutions using ever-expanding mobile technologies. Themes to be addressed are: 1) Global Health Challenges. 2) Mobile Health Opportunities. 3) Entrepreneurship in Health Care.

Interprofessional Healthcare Informatics  | Coursera

Starts: Feb. 10

This course covers electronic health record issues, and relates ethical, legislative and political issues to health informatics.

SW25x: Global Health from a Biosocial Perspective | HarvardX

Starts: Feb. 25

A teaching team of four physician-anthropologists hope to instill a sense of inspiration and possibility investigating global health.

LEARN TO CODE IN 2014

If your goal is to learn how to code in 2014, these classes are some of the most popular.

CS50x: Introduction to Computer Science | HarvardX

Starts: Now, Self-paced

An introduction to computer science, and the art of programming.

I took this class and have to say it was one of my favorite ever, even though there were many sleepless nights trying to fix my buggy code and solve problems. Prof. Malan is awesome. – Melanie Pinola

Learn to Code | Codeacademy

Starts: Now, Self-paced

Learn to code interactively for free. Friends can also team up to take programming lessons together.

Everyone can benefit from these skills. Indeed tracks trends in job postings from thousands of job sites. Today, “HTML5” is the fastest growing keyword found in online job postings. The top 10 trends are listed to the right of the graph.

Job Trends HTML5

HELP WITH YOUR GOALS

Are you having a hard time sticking to your resolutions or goals? Are you afraid you won’t follow through with your online class?

You may first want to sign up for “Unlocking the Immunity to Change: A New Approach to Personal Improvement.” In this class, you can set a goal for yourself, and get a better understanding of behavior change!

GSE1x: Unlocking the Immunity to Change | HarvardX

Starts: March 11

Apply new psychological theory about personal change to an improvement goal of your own throughout the entire course.

Here’s to your growth and success in 2014!

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HealthIsCool

@HealthIsCool / Angela Dunn writes about the future of health covering tech giants, startups and innovation. Topics of interest include: artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, precision medicine, and other trends. Follow on Twitter at @HealthIsCool.