Building a Business Case for E-Learning

AFMC Funding Opportunity Announcement
& Request for Proposals for the
Development of an e-Learning Tool*
Early Brain & Biological Development and Addictions (EBBDA):
Funding award for the development of an e-learning tool for undergraduate
medical learners and educators
Catherine Peirce, Project Manager e-Learning
Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada
265 Carling Avenue Suite 800
Ottawa, ON K1S 2E1
613-730-0687 ext. 239
[email protected]
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AFMC Funding Opportunity Announcement & Request for Proposals for the Development of an e-Learning Tool on EBBDA
Table of Contents
A. Introduction................................................................................................................... 3
About AFMC.................................................................................................................................................................. 3
e-Learning Tool ............................................................................................................................................................. 3
B. Vendor Instructions ...................................................................................................... 4
Deadline for Response to RFP
June 11, 2012................................................................................................ 4
Information Required from the Vendor .................................................................................................................. 4
Contact Information .................................................................................................................................................... 4
Notifications................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Award .............................................................................................................................................................................. 4
C. Basis of Award ............................................................................................................... 5
D. Detailed Specifications for Proposals ......................................................................... 5
Audience ......................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Primary: Undergraduate medical students.............................................................................................................. 5
Areas of Focus ............................................................................................................................................................... 5
Contextual Components ............................................................................................................................................ 5
Core Competencies..................................................................................................................................................... 6
Design Team/Individual ............................................................................................................................................... 6
Expression of Need ...................................................................................................................................................... 6
e-Learning Components.............................................................................................................................................. 6
Target Hardware, Software & Platform .................................................................................................................. 7
Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................................................... 7
E. Responsibilities: ............................................................................................................. 7
F. Contracting & Pricing ................................................................................................... 7
G. Proposed Work Plan .................................................................................................... 8
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AFMC Funding Opportunity Announcement & Request for Proposals for the Development of an e-Learning Tool on EBBDA
A. Introduction
The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) is announcing the launch of an AFMC
funding opportunity for the development of an e-learning tool incorporating research on early brain and
biological development and its connection to addiction. This initiative is a partnership with the Norlien
Foundation, a proactive private foundation with offices in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta.
This funding opportunity is part of the larger Addiction e-Learning Project for Undergraduate Medical
Education. The goal of the project is to create a suite of e-learning tools to support medical education
curriculum for improving awareness, clinical practice and patient care related to addictions.
The objectives of this AFMC funding award are to:
 Align medical education competencies with emerging research on experience-based brain and
biological development as it relates to early childhood development and its lifelong impact on
addiction
 Support subject matter experts in Canada
 Build connections among researchers, subject matter experts, and e-learning experts at
Canadian faculties of medicine
 Create a new, innovative resource relevant to undergraduate medical educators and learners in
Canada.
About AFMC
Founded in 1943, AFMC represents Canada’s 17 faculties of medicine and is the voice of academic
medicine in this country. We act to support medical education, health research, and clinical care in our
faculties of medicine. Canada’s medical faculties graduate over 2,400 MDs a year with an enrolment of
over 10,500 undergraduate medical students and supervise the training of over 14,500 post-MD
trainees.
e-Learning Tool
The tool is to be an interactive, web-based pedagogical resource such as (but not limited to) a learning
module, interactive quiz, mind map, online game, team task, role-playing activity, or web quest. The
complexity of the e-learning tool will be commensurate with the learner’s expected abilities. The tool
will include background information on the relevant subject, self-assessment tools and links to
supporting resources. The use of video or audio is optional.
From a contextual perspective, the resource created will be a non-traditional pedagogical tool that will
enable learners to explore basic concepts relating to early brain and biological development and its
connection to addiction. The resource should be designed for undergraduate medical learners and
educators. Applicants should choose from among one or more basic concepts as they relate to early
brain and biological development and the manifestation of addictive behaviours, including: interactive
nature of genes and the environment; epigenetics and executive function; brain plasticity; biological
embedding of early experiences (adverse childhood experiences); neurobiology of reward and
addictions; long-term consequences of stress; gender; and parenting skills education. Proposals can also
address the basic concepts of clinical implications of addiction (e.g. process and multiple addictions,
trauma-informed, gender-sensitive treatment, parenting skills education and addiction); chronic disease
management and continuum of care (e.g. physician health programs, shame in addiction treatment and
recovery). Please note, for the purposes of this proposal, addictive behaviors include drug, alcohol
abuse, gambling, food, sex, work and other human behaviours.
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AFMC Funding Opportunity Announcement & Request for Proposals for the Development of an e-Learning Tool on EBBDA
The pedagogical framework for the e-learning tool will be based on medical education competencies
identified in the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) Objectives for the Qualifying Examination. The elearning tool should focus on specific MCC Objectives that address the contextual themes addressed
above (e.g. mood disorders, panic and anxiety, obstetrical complications, etc).
In addition, a connection should be made with the Royal College of Physician and Surgeons
CanMEDS Physician Competency Framework and the College of Family Physicians of Canada CanMEDSFMU: Undergraduate Competencies from a Family Medicine Perspective.
A sample of the relevant framework for base knowledge is the lecture series from the Alberta Family
Wellness Initiative’s Symposia on Early Brain & Biological Development (EBBD) and Recovery from
Addiction.
Detailed specifications for the e-learning tool are provided in section D.
B. Vendor Instructions
Deadline for Response to RFP
June 11, 2012
Information Required from the Vendor
Provide a statement of interest, resume, proposal, quote, references, and letter(s) of support from one
or more faculty member(s) stating the relevance of the pedagogical tool within the institutional setting
and their commitment to evaluation and review throughout the development process and at the
conclusion of the project.
 Provide contact information for the principal individual(s) to be contacted regarding the
information in this RFP.
 Indicate the total number of team members/employees, by location (if appropriate) and function
(subject matter expert, instructional designer, creator, etc.).
 Please attach any additional information that you feel will provide helpful information about your
company’s products and services.
Contact Information
Please submit the proposal, including supporting documentation, to:
Catherine Peirce
Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada
265 Carling Avenue Suite 800, Ottawa, ON, K1S 2E1
Phone: 613-730-0687 ext. 239
E-mail: [email protected]@afmc.ca
Notifications
Vendor will be notified regarding the status of their proposal by June 25, 2012.
Funding will commence upon signing of the contract.
Award
The total amount available for this funding opportunity is $30,000. AFMC retains the right to award all,
part, or none of this project to any vendor or vendors.
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AFMC Funding Opportunity Announcement & Request for Proposals for the Development of an e-Learning Tool on EBBDA
C. Basis of Award
Submissions will be evaluated based on the vendor’s ability to develop and meet the following
requirements:
 Completeness of response to the detailed specifications outlined in this RFP
 Timely and complete response to RFP
 Flexibility and degree of difficulty of product implementation
 Implementation plan and support, including risk analysis and mitigation
 Ability of respondent to provide sufficient time for feedback from supplier at each stage
 Ability of respondent to meet the project’s cost requirements
 Acceptable vendor client reference
D. Detailed Specifications for Proposals
Submissions for funding to develop an e-learning tool should include the following considerations:
Audience
Primary: Undergraduate medical students.
Areas of Focus
All resources must be designed with the purpose of creating an awareness and basic understanding of
early brain and biological development and its connection to addiction. Resources will be designed with
capacity to horizontally integrate into undergraduate curriculum. The resources should focus on, where
appropriate, history taking, review of clinical and lab findings, differential diagnosis, and creation of an
effective plan of care as related to the core competencies.
Additional areas of focus may include:
 Introducing neuroscience model of addictions with community/public health
 Screening and detection of individuals at increased risk of addiction
 Treatment and continuum of care of individuals and families with addictions
o Include concurrent disorders
o Apply the chronic disease model
o Integrate Interprofessional settings to illustrate
o Improve awareness of avenues for treatment
Contextual Components
Addictions as they relate to the following (including but not limited to):
1. Neuroscience of addiction
 Adverse childhood experiences – early brain development, brain plasticity and biological
embedding of early experiences
 Genetic expression and addictions
 Long-term consequences of stress
 Neurobiology of reward and addiction
 Gender and addiction
 Parenting skills education in the continuum of addiction
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AFMC Funding Opportunity Announcement & Request for Proposals for the Development of an e-Learning Tool on EBBDA
2.
Clinical Implications
 Applying a chronic disease management model to addiction with care, continuity and
contingency
 Process and concurrent disorders
Core Competencies
The pedagogical framework for the e-learning tool will be based on medical education competencies
identified in the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) Objectives for the Qualifying Examination. The elearning tool should focus on specific MCC Objectives that address the contextual themes addressed
above (e.g. mood disorders, panic and anxiety, obstetrical complications, etc).
In addition, a connection should be made with the Royal College of Physician and Surgeons
CanMEDS Physician Competency Framework and the College of Family Physicians of Canada CanMEDSFMU: Undergraduate Competencies from a Family Medicine Perspective.
Design Team/Individual
It is anticipated that the project will require expertise in the following areas: subject matter, virtual
patient development, and educational/instructional design. The individual or team will be responsible for
identifying the relevant core competencies, establishing specific learning objectives, writing or providing
appropriate content, developing a self-assessment component (formative or summative), liaising with
AFMC and the advisory committee, producing the e-learning tool according to the specifications
provided and as negotiated through the development and consultation with advisory committee, and
delivering the e-learning tool in a universal file format.
Note: The project lead at AFMC will be responsible for coordinating meetings between the advisory
committee and the design and development team/individual.
Expression of Need
Submissions will be required to demonstrate an expression of need for the resource they intend to
develop. For the expression of need, applicants must:
 Identify how this tool will be relevant to their local, regional, distributed, and/or national
population of student?
 Identify one to two educators who will act as: a) advisors during development, b) test the beta
version of the resources and provide feedback, and c) potentially integrate the resource in their
teaching.
e-Learning Components
The e-learning resource will include the following criteria:
 Clearly defined and measurable learning objectives
 Interactive methods for effective learning acquisition and/or simulation of multidimensional
teaching situations for their learners
 Opportunity for individualized approaches to learning
 Interactive, formative and/or summative learning opportunities
 Intuitive and logical navigation
 Provide background information on the subject
 Provide links to supplementary resources, research and information
 Self-assessment and/or evaluation options for the learner based on the learning objectives
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AFMC Funding Opportunity Announcement & Request for Proposals for the Development of an e-Learning Tool on EBBDA
 Users of the resource should also be provided ways to contact authors with feedback or
suggestions for improvements.
Target Hardware, Software & Platform
The e-learning tool will be designed as a secure, stand-alone electronic resource. The software choice
for the e-learning tool should be defined and justified technically by the respondent. The e-learning tool
would ideally be portable across Windows and Apple operating systems and mobile platforms. The elearning tool must be openly accessible/free-to-use through a Creative Commons licence.
Please identify and explain any limitations if your proposal does not meet one or more of the design
criteria listed above.
Acknowledgements
The e-learning tool will include acknowledgements to the developers, funding partners, advisory
committee and any additional subject matter experts as approved by AFMC.
Quote/Budget
Please provide a detailed timeline based on the proposed work plan and a quote commensurate with the
work required.
E. Responsibilities:
AFMC will:
 Coordinate a review of the e-learning tool content and technical specifications (AFMC will
consult will coordinate consultation with an advisory committee of stakeholders and subject
matter experts)
 Host the final e-learning tool on CHEC-CESC.ca
The vendor shall:
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Provide regular progress updates to AFMC
Provide content, learning objectives, self-assessment, and links to core competencies
Participate in consultations with the advisory committee
Coordinate an additional review process from one faculty member (in addition to the project
advisory committee). This independent faculty member should provide an evaluation and review
throughout the process and at the conclusion of the project. Ideally the faculty member will
work in the area of addiction and mental health.
 Provide the architecture, design, layout, programming, and product delivery (Navigational and
graphic design provided by vendor in consultation with AFMC. AFMC to approve all branding)
F. Contracting & Pricing





Provide a breakdown of the pricing for your proposed solution. Provide a timeline and budget for
the project based on the work plan provided in this RFP.
What costs can AFMC control?
Are there any suggestions you can make to reduce the overall cost?
Outline proposed payment terms, identifying any up-front “set-up” payments, one-time costs, annual
leases, etc.
How do you bill for your services (monthly, quarterly, annually, etc.)? How are bills itemized? What
level of cost detail do you provide?
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AFMC Funding Opportunity Announcement & Request for Proposals for the Development of an e-Learning Tool on EBBDA


Are there any back-end costs after completing the contract? Describe.
Note: The e-learning tool created will be produced as the exclusive intellectual property of the
AFMC and will be shared under the creative commons licensing agreement Attribution, NonCommercial, Share alike.
G. Proposed Work Plan
Task
Design & Consultation (outline for e-learning tool) – Jun – Aug 2012
Responsibility
Award and signing of the contract
AFMC/ VENDOR
Identify specific learning objectives, topic and focus of e-learning tool
Develop content outline for e-learning tool and initial technical specifications
Consultation on outline (feedback from Advisory Committee, discussion by
teleconference)
Make revisions as necessary to the outline and technical specifications
VENDOR
VENDOR
AFMC/VENDOR
Write first draft of content including background, self-assessment questions, and
identify supplemental resources
Consultation on content (feedback from Advisory Committee, discussion by
teleconference)
Make revisions as necessary to the content and technical specifications
Beta Version of e-learning tool – Sept – Nov 2012
Production of the e-learning tool
Deliver Beta version via CHEC-CESC
Testing & feedback (with Advisory Committee & CHEC-CESC community)
Incorporate changes & deliver final product
Final Production of e-learning tool – December 2012
Production and refining of the e-learning tool
Deliver final version via CHEC-CESC
Distribution & use of the e-learning tool
VENDOR
VENDOR
AFMC/VENDOR
VENDOR
VENDOR
VENDOR
AFMC
VENDOR
VENDOR
VENDOR
AFMC/VENDOR
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