Development of an Internet-based Learning System for Social Medicine

我们开发了一个名为“Supercourse”的有效学习系统，主要用于使用互联网的健康科学，这不仅在日本，而且在许多信息技术水平较低的发展中国家也是一种有用的教育工具。Supercourse的主要目的是：1）开发一个与亚洲和太平洋岛屿地区相关的有效学习工具，2）通过该地区的科学家、学者和其他志愿者网络传播和扩大健康科学教育机会，3）最终促进改善健康和减少贫困。超级课程的独特之处包括：1）部署互联网，2）提供教育材料（主要是Popwerpoint幻灯片）免费，3）使用超文本和超漫画风格，4）由一组国际志愿者管理，5）最后以多种语言授课。超级课程涵盖了许多科学学科的广泛领域，包括“健康，环境和可持续发展”，“决策流行病学”、“人畜共患病”和国际卫生。我们还与日本科学家合作开发了“Supercourse Japan”。日本超级课程提供免费的日语讲座，如流行病学，老年人健康，国际健康，环境健康和公共健康营养。SuperCourse将成为世界各地不同语言的独特讲座材料的优秀存储库。为了扩大这些活动，我们还建议建立“SuperCourse亚洲网络”。这项建议是在2004年3月举行的第三次日本-太平洋岛屿论坛（太平洋岛屿首脑会议）国际后续会议上提出的。

We have developed an effective learning system called "Supercourse" mainly for health sciences using the Internet, which is a useful education tool not only in Japan but also in many developing countries with low information technology.The main purposes of the Supercourse are 1)to develop an effective learning tool relevant to the region of Asia and the Pacific Islands, 2)to disseminate and expand education opportunities for health sciences though the network of scientists, scholars and other volunteers in the region, and 3)eventually contribute to betterment of health and reduction of poverty.The unique characteristics of the Supercourse are, among others, 1)to deploy the Internet, 2)to provide the education materials (mainly Popwerpoint-based slides) free of charge, 3)to utilize hypertext and hyper-comic style, 4)to be managed by a group of international volunteers, and 5)finally to deliver lectures in multiple languages.The Supercourse covers, contents-wise, the broad areas of many scientific disciplines including "Health, Environment acid Sustainable Development", "Epidemiology for Decision-making", "Zoonoses", and International Health. We have also developed the "Supercourse Japan" in collaboration with Japanese scientists. The Supercouse Japan provides free lectures in Japanese such as Epidemiology, Senior Health, International Health, Environmental Health, and Public Health Nutrition. The Supercourse is expected to serve as an excellent depository of unique lecture materials worldwide in various languages.To expand these activities, we have also proposed to establish die "SuperCourse Asia Network". This proposal was presented in the international follow-up meeting of the third Japan-Pacific Island Forum (Pacific Islands Summit) in March 2004.