IVAC Learn.On

First, you will attend a preparatory course to promote intercultural competences and intercultural exchange between speech pathology and physiotherapy students from the Catholic University of Applied Sciences (Mainz/ Germany) and La Trobe University (Melbourne/ Australia).

The main part of the subject focusses on telehealth in aging. You will acquire knowledge about physiological and pathological changes and challenges in elderly persons. You will apply your knowledge and design a prototype of a telehealth application for clients to manage challenges in aging (see fig. 1). In this participatory process, you will interact with the target group to find a suitable solution for a collaboratively identified problem.

A core component of this subject is to become familiar with the method of design thinking as a creative and interactive approach in problem solving. You will work online on your solution in an intercultural, interdisciplinary team of speech pathology and physiotherapy students.

In a closing workshop you will have the possibility for an informal, intercultural exchange with students and lecturers. The closing event is planned to take place in Germany at the Catholic University of Applied Sciences in Mainz. La Trobe students are invited to attend the event in person.

The German university will cover expenses for travelling and accommodation.

On successful completion you will be able to:

1. Communicate and work competently in an intercultural, interdisciplinary environment.
2. Work with different software and online tools such as virtual whiteboards.
3. Identify physiological and pathological changes and challenges in aging.
4. Describe methods in prevention and rehabilitation in elderly persons.
5. Apply design thinking method skills to approach clinical problems.
6. Integrate elderly clients' needs and their feedback into the process of patient-centred, participator problem solving.
7. Conceptualise a prototype for a telehealth application for elderly clients.

You will undertake a range of learning activities within an online learning format with synchronous and asynchronous sessions. Learning activities include, e.g., usage of virtual whiteboards, quizzes or written tasks. In a collaborative, interactive environment, you can apply your theoretical knowledge and practical experience to the development of a telehealth application for elderly clients.