Enhancing Public Health Education Through Smart Learning Environments: Integrating Technology and Pedagogy

Abstract

The landscape of public health education is transforming, and online learning technologies are rapidly being adopted. This narrative review examines how public health education has evolved by comparing traditional and online learning environments, focusing on how smart learning environments can enhance educational outcomes. The analysis is grounded in the community of inquiry framework, Gardner's theory on multiple intelligences, and the theory of self-regulated learning. This review first outlines the key competencies required by public health professionals, including epidemiology, health policy, and biostatistics, and then discusses how these competencies are taught traditionally. This description is followed by an exploration of online learning environments and the unique challenges faced by learners, such as the need for self-regulation and motivation. Smart learning environments should integrate adaptive learning technologies and personalized learning pathways to address these challenges and provide a more engaging and supportive learning experience. These technologies enable real-time feedback and customization of learning materials, allowing students to monitor their progress and adjust their learning strategies. Smart learning environments can also contribute to community and collaborative learning in online environments. Integrating smart learning environments into public health curricula can enhance student learning outcomes and prepare future public health professionals to navigate a rapidly changing digital world. The purpose of this review is to contribute to the ongoing discourse on the modernization of public health education by proposing a conceptual community of inquiry framework for smart learning environments, suggesting a balanced approach that leverages the strengths of traditional and online learning methods.

Keywords: Community of inquiry; Digital learning; Online teaching; Self-regulated learning; Smart learning environments.

Fig. 1

Conceptual framework of the community of inquiry (CoI) framework for smart learning environments