For page called … ACoRN Workshop Design
The ACoRN Education Program customizes the ACoRN Workshop to the participating site
and practitioners by using the needs assessment tools.
Each workshop is built upon a core content foundation and is delivered in keeping with
adult education principles, preferably to interprofessional healthcare teams by an
interprofessional instructor team.
The ACoRN workshop is designed to complement the ACoRN Textbook.
ACoRN workshops are interactive and utilize case-based learning and/or practice stations to
apply the concepts and skills presented in the textbook.
The workshops provide a thorough understanding of the ACoRN Process and application
of the eight Sequences and are consistent across the education programs.
Workshop pre-requisites
Are there pre-requisites to participate in an ACoRN workshop?
ACoRN assumes familiarity with the AAP/AHA Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) at
the provider level. A brief review of core knowledge and skills in neonatal resuscitation is
integrated into the ACoRN Textbook and may be included in the workshop.
Who Can Participate in an ACoRN Workshop?
ACoRN is specifically designed to meet the needs of any health-care practitioner who may
be faced with an at-risk or unwell baby in the first few hours or days after birth.
Like neonatal resuscitation, stabilization is most effective when performed by a coordinated
interprofessional team. The workshops should encourage interprofessional participation to
increase learning effectiveness.
Learner Preparation
Prior to attending an ACoRN workshop, each participant
requires an ACoRN Textbook and specific information
outlining course preparation requirements.
In preparation for an ACoRN workshop, participants are
asked to review sections of the ACoRN textbook
pertaining to the workshop being offered.
The ACoRN Textbook is
designed as a learning
tool and to become a
frequently utilized clinical
reference tool after the
workshop.
This preparation includes a thorough understanding of
Chapter 1 and a review of the eight Sequences as they
apply to the professional roles, responsibilities and level of training of the learners. A sample
information letter can be found as an appendix to this ACoRN Instructor Guide.
The intent is not for the participants to memorize all the content in the textbook. Nor is it
feasible to teach all the material included in the textbook in one educational session. Instead,
it is intended that participants learn to use the textbook as a resource.
Each participant therefore requires their own manual for study and reference.
ACoRN textbooks can be ordered by individuals and instructors through regional perinatal
programs, organizations providing outreach education, and many university bookstores.
Needs Assessment
Identification of the learning needs of participants is important to the adult learning process.
Administration of a prior-learning assessment tool assists the ACoRN Instructor Team tailor
the design of each workshop to the needs of the interprofesional participants, whether they
practice in a rural, community or secondary/tertiary hospital setting.
Identification of Institutional objectives
The learning needs of practitioners and institutional resources available in a small rural
centre can be very different from those working in a secondary/tertiary hospital.
The ACoRN Education Program has found the following institutional assessments very
helpful in designing ACoRN Workshops
Identification of institutional objectives
Site visit
Review of available resources
Review of communication within and between institutions.
Review of transport data.
Review of provincial or regional databases.
Workshop Materials
The Sample Workshop Checklist contains a reminder of the education supplies required for
a workshop.
ACoRN laminates and dry erase markers allow real-time use of the Primary Survey and
Sequences when discussing clinical cases during the workshops.
ACoRN workshops are intended to be primarily a hands-on, case-based learning. Clinical
cases are liberally used during workshop’s practice sessions. They are designed to allow the
ACoRN learners the opportunity to practice each of the sequences at least once.
Qualified local and invited experts should be asked to contribute to the case-based
component and skill stations.
A standardized set of ACoRN Slides has been developed to assist in providing a didactic
introduction to the ACoRN Process, Sequences and skills.
Local information regarding Transport and Support should be developed by the
instructor team or regional outreach programs to reflect regional/provincial practices.
The ACoRN slides should be presented by accredited ACoRN Instructors only.
Slides can be modified only to change the cases. Core information cannot be altered.
Self-Tests are learning and evaluation tools which are administered and reviewed during
the workshop. These may also be administered as take-home ‘tests’, and reviewed in
classroom the following day, or after course completion.
Xxxxxxxxxx
Up to this point only
ACoRN Resources
The Appendix contains sample tools which can be used in planning ACoRN courses. For
example:
Institutional needs assessment
Participant needs assessments
Sample participant invitation and registration confirmation letters
Pre and post questionnaires
Sample agendas
Self–test (Note: please do not distribute prior to the program. The self-tests are collected
by the instructors at the end of the review)
Workshop evaluation.
Additional resources are available for recognized ACoRN instructors via the ACoRN
website (www.acornprograms.net). For example:
ACoRN laminates
ACoRN database
ACoRN workshop attendance card
ACoRN instructor updates
ACoRN Resources
The Appendix contains sample tools which can be used in planning ACoRN courses. For
example:
Institutional and participant needs assessments
Sample participant invitation and registration confirmation letters
Pre and post questionnaires
Sample agendas
Self–test (Note: please do not distribute prior to the program. The self-tests are collected
by the instructors at the end of the review)
Workshop evaluation.
Additional resources are available for recognized ACoRN instructors via the ACoRN
website (www.acornprograms.net). For example:
ACoRN laminates
ACoRN database
ACoRN workshop attendance card
ACoRN instructor updates