A four days workshop to conduct beta-test of the Training manager of ICATT was organized in IT training centre of Novartis, Basel from 11 to 14 July 2006. The participants came from five WHO regions – AFR, AMR, SEAR, EUR and WPR. The workshop facilitators were from WHO/HQ, NFSD, Sirius Technologies as well as the instructional design consultant.

The main objectives of the workshop were: to assess usability and functionality of the computerized training manager and model training course, to identify needs for further development and improvement of the software, to discuss and identify possible use and ways to field test the tool and to get feedback on the user manual.
 

During the first day of the workshop the participants received an introduction and overview of the joint WHO/NFSD project by Ms Vera Haag Arbenz. It was stressed that ICATT can be used for local adaptation of IMCI clinical guidelines and also for strengthening training of health care providers in IMCI. It was stressed several times that ICATT is not a stand-alone training approach and should be used as a part of various training programmes.
 

Than the participants took part in a guided tour of the application conducted by the ICATT consultant Dr Ivan Lejnev. He again pointed out that IMCI training using ICATT does not only rely on a computer, it should be supported by appropriate clinical practice of the trainees. Two possible options for using tool have been discussed: individual learning (self-learning approach) and class room teaching (facilitator assisted learning). Presence of the second option was the main reason for keeping free navigation in ICAT tool.
After these introductory sessions the workshop participants during 3 days work with the application testing navigation, working with the different parts of the training manager: READ, SEE, and PRACTISE. It was decided that TEST part will be reviewed at later stage.
 

Based on the comments received from the workshop participants a list of key recommendations for further work with ICATT was prepared.
 

From the workshop 33 technical findings were collected. The recommendations and suggested changes will be addressed to the extent possible.
 

A copy of the workshop report is available on request.