Diane Kovacs <diane@kovacs.com> is the primary contact.

Description: This is a hands-on Web-based course, in which participants will learn how to efficiently search for, identify, and evaluate CAM information on the Web. We will begin by defining "alternative" & "complementary". How do we know what is "Good" information about alternative medical traditions or complementary medicine practices? How will you avoid and teach others to be critical about fraudulent or exploitative information? Tuition $200 as of 10/28/12

Educational Objective: In this hands-on course, you will learn the key medical terminology and how to search for quality complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) information on the Web. You will also finish the course with a set of coure Web reference tools to use in providing reference services to health care consumers. We will begin by defining "alternative" & "complementary" and some learning some other key medical terminology. You will learn evaluation criteria to apply to all kinds of medical information found on the Web. How do we know what is quality information about alternative medical traditions or complementary medicine practices? How will you teach others to avoid and to be critical about fraudulent or exploitative information? We will concentrate on identifying complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) information published on the Web by credible sources - that is research supported or otherwise critically reviewed by knowledgeable conventional or CAM medicine researchers or practitioners. You will learn about and use information resources that clarify and explain different complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) Traditions. Web sites that provide warnings of dangerous practices, side effects, or complications are emphasized.

Agenda:

http://www.kovacs.com/mlacealt.html

Need for This Course: This course is intended for librarians and other information specialists who work with health care consumers and/or health care professionals who need to find high quality information about alternative and complementary medicine on the Web. Some experience with health and medical information searching on the Web is assumed. Level of instruction is beginners-intermediate.

The instructional methods used include Lecture, Slides, Discussion, and Hands-on Exercises.

Participant Materials: Web-based Moodle hosted lectures, forums, learning activities. PDF printable versions of lectures and learning activities. The course itself is online at http://kovacs.com/moodle/course/view.php?id=13. A basic overview syllabus is also online at http://www.kovacs.com/mlacealt.html.

Facility Requirements: Students must have Internet connected computer with current Web browser, and email.

Additional Evaluation: I will use MLA's standard evaluation forms.