The role of computers in medical education

Abstract

Changes in health care delivery and styles of learning in medical education have forced a need to use and critically evaluate a variety of new teaching tools, including the computer. While the computer is unlikely to ever replace the patient as the primary focus of learning, it does have the ability to reproduce a highly interactive environment and can mimic many situations in Medicine. Apart from virtual reality and simulation, which is still in its infancy in medical education, the computer and appropriate software can be used to generate extremely effective case scenarios. Increasingly large amounts of material are being delivered in electronic format and medical schools place greater emphasis on computer-based instruction in their curricula. This has potential benefit for speed and ease of access of up-to-date information and the material can be used by individuals and organisations off-campus. It is possible that suitably prepared computer-based materials will be used to replace traditional styles of teaching and learning, namely, the lecture, tutorial and practical class. There is evidence in the literature that such computer material can be at least as effective in terms of short-term knowledge gain and problem-solving abilities, but the place of this resource as an aid to understanding and long-term learning has yet to be defined. Computer-based instruction is expensive and to make effective, efficient and appropriate use of this resource in medical education will require considerable and careful thought.