Harlan Wallach

Repropedia: A Reproductive Lexicon to Fill the Gap in Reproductive Terminology

Repropedia (repropedia.org) is a comprehensive, reproductive-focused online lexicon created to increase public literacy in the fields of reproductive health and science.

Introduction to Reproduction: Online Education for the Millennial Learner

ABSTRACT Despite staggering rates of sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies, reproductive health education is not yet standardized across secondary or postsecondary curricula. The Womens Health Research Institute and Northwestern University Information Technology created Introduction to Reproduction, a massive open online course to encourage global students to learn the biological foundations of reproductive health. This digital education experience appeals to the Millennial learner and offers unique opportunities to explore topics in reproductive biology via lectures, animations, and three-dimensional anatomical illustrations. Data were collected anonymously from de-identified learners who elected to self-report on their experiences while completing the course as well as through Coursera datasets. Northwestern Universitys Institutional Review Board classified this research project as an exempt status due to the de-identified nature of the collected data. Participants from 47 countries report on reproductive health content knowledge, past reproductive health education, and level of engagement with the topic. These data indicate that the Introduction to Reproduction course has a meaningful impact on its participants and presents the information in a concise and accessible format. Distribution of this course to a wider audience is the goal for the program and important to the field of reproductive health.

The use of a virtual journal club to promote cross-cultural learning in the reproductive sciences

PurposeScientific literacy and communication are critical skills in the biological sciences. Journal clubs, in which peer-reviewed academic literature is discussed, are traditionally used to teach students to evaluate the literature, review scientific findings, and learn about historical, controversial, or current topics.MethodsWe used a virtual journal club to facilitate the international interaction between two universities with master’s degree programs in the reproductive sciences: the University of Murcia (Spain) and Northwestern University (USA). The virtual journal club occurred over a 2-hour period and was held using Blue Jeans Conferencing Service software and involved a total of 29 students. During this event, the students who were separated physically by thousands of miles discussed and exchanged ideas about a high-impact publication in real time. A survey assessment was administered to students at the University of Murcia following the event.ResultsPositive perceptions included the establishment of cross-institutional interactions and the ability to practice scientific communication in another language. Areas noted for improvement included preparation time and engagement opportunities.ConclusionOverall, the virtual journal club is an innovative technology that can easily be broadened and has the potential to foster collaboration, ameliorate multilingual communication, improve cultural competencies, and expand professional global networks.

Oncofertility Communication Tools for Professionals and the Public

The interdisciplinary field of oncofertility raises unique challenges and presents new opportunities for communicating cutting-edge advances in research and clinical care to scientists, health care providers, and the patient community. Oncofertility professionals, including members of the Oncofertility Consortium, have developed a diverse set of tools, including Web sites, virtual meeting capabilities, and mobile tools, to educate research and medical professionals. Technologies such as social media can also help professionals as they disseminate information to the public about oncofertility issues and options. Effective communication about oncofertility requires recognition of the unique perspectives of patients, providers, researchers, and the public—in this chapter, we discuss these perspectives and describe the array of communication tools that are available to oncofertility professionals.