Introductory Course on Knowledge Synthesis for Knowledge Users

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Overview

This course will teach students about knowledge synthesis in general, as well as how to conduct knowledge synthesis projects. Students will begin to conduct knowledge synthesis in the topic of their choice, with guidance from the course directors. Please note that the students will not be completing a full knowledge synthesis project during the duration of the course, due to course timelines.

Outline

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Differentiate between different types of knowledge synthesis, such as systematic reviews and qualitative evidence reviews
• Distinguish between different types of evidence that can be summarized in knowledge synthesis
• Develop a knowledge synthesis question
• Establish the eligibility criteria for knowledge synthesis
• Create a knowledge synthesis protocol

The course will cover 17 modules in total. Each module consists of a video presentation, 5 mandatory readings, optional readings, and a mandatory quiz. In addition, there are two assignments related to developing a knowledge synthesis question and protocol. The students will have three months to complete the course and the course instructors will provide high-level methodological support for the review.

Each module takes 3.5-5 hours to complete. The assignments take approximately 10 and 20 hours, respectively, depending on whether you are using an existing project or starting a new one.

Who should take this course?

• Graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, early career researchers, new evidence synthesis practitioners, other knowledge users

Admission

• All participants must bring a current or proposed knowledge synthesis project to work on in the course. University of Toronto students who are taking the course for credit must be in a PhD program.