Overview:
The Drug Discovery Online program started in 2018 with the goal of increasing the digital literacy of current students, showcasing the rich research expertise within the Basic Sciences, School of Medicine and reaching additional students through creating online resources. Since our inception, we have targeted our efforts to the development of 2-week mini-courses that cover a variety of topics key to drug discovery and development.
Our goal is to develop a service core to assist in online resource creation.
Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt School of Medicine are world leaders in the areas of pharmacology, drug discovery, and drug development. Drug Discovery Online is targeting the design and construction of online programs for students interested in the pharmaceutical industry.
We apply the latest approaches and state-of-the-art practices in online learning. Quality Matters (QM) is an international, U.S.-based non-profit organization specializing in standards, processes, and professional development for quality assurance in online and blended learning. QM tools and resources are regularly revised to reflect current research and best practices. The Drug Discovery Online program follows the QM rubric to maintain the highest quality of online materials.
Research Goals and Objectives:
Problem Statement: How can we improve the courses/program format so that people would be more likely to complete and take more classes?
Objectives:
A design that users are more likely to complete the courses
A design that fits users needs
Methods:
Competitive analysis
Interviews
Initial User types:
Type A (n=5): Working professionals who are interested in getting into or switching tracks within the drug discovery industry.
Types B (n=4): Advanced science undergraduate students who are just getting started with their careers.