The Data Burden of Digital Learning

The costs of participating in training programs that rely on video conferencing vary by mechanics of use and the specific platform. We proposed practical solutions to limiting costs in low resource settings with the use of video conferencing calls. Scenarios in which facilitators have their video on and expect learners to participate with continuous video result in the greatest data burden, while use of intermittent video by both facilitator and learners can significantly lower data use, and thus costs. The choice of a platform also impacts teleprogramming, with creative options for use of lower cost platforms to reduce participant and training organization costs. These might include sharing educational content or video via chat groups and limiting conference to audio alone. In the context of COVID-19 where virtual meetings have become prevalent, it is critical that data burden is considered by program directors and funders. Looking forward, hybrid training that includes virtual and in-person training will likely become the norm in global health settings, but achieving this model will still require thoughtful consideration of data costs. Further, our findings are relevant to many other fields and advocate for evaluation of costs and data burden along with the growing use of teleprogramming in these settings. Author SummaryThe COVID-19 pandemic restricted travel and in-person gatherings. These restrictions also impacted access to important in-person training programs for healthcare workers, especially in areas where financial resources are limited. However, one positive impact of the pandemic has been improved access and experience with video conferencing tools (like Zoom) for many healthcare training programs. These video conferencing tools provide a way to complete essential training when in-person options may be limited. However, video-based training can have significant costs including internet data costs, mobile device costs, and healthcare worker professional time. Our study examined the data costs associated with video conferencing using several video conferencing applications across 5,554 mobile data plans in 228 countries. We found that costs are highest when trainers have their video on and learners participate with video on throughout the training. Intermittent video use by both trainers and learners can significantly lower costs. We also found that using lower-cost video-conferencing tools may help reduce costs. Additionally, there are training methods that can reduce costs including sharing educational content or video via chat groups and limiting conferences to audio only. Virtual training is a powerful and common tool in healthcare settings, but it is essential to consider costs, especially in areas with limited resources.