Using Multimedia and Education Technology to Enhance Teaching

Presented by David Roberts on March 21, 2013 at 12:00 pm

Objectives

  1. Identify theoretical basis for multimedia and e-learning to enhance teaching
  2. Provide framework for development, presentation, dissemination and organization of novel classroom content
  3. Demonstrate practical application of commonly available education technologies
  4. Review impact of technology on current generation of medical trainees

Summary

Successful classroom teaching is based on excellent content, not on the latest, fastest, fanciest or shiniest new technology. Multimedia and education technology are simply tools in the toolbox of today’s medical educators which when utilized appropriately can improve both the delivery of content and enhancement of learning. Our current generation of learners is more apt to be familiar with technology, assume its presence and demand its use by faculty.

Medical educators can utilize education technology in many ways, including the development of novel content, creation of new modes of presentation, design of interaction and evaluation strategies, and the dissemination of content far beyond the walls of any given classroom. There are also tools to assist educators with organization and efficiency in the work of these teaching domains.

This session is designed to provide a framework and rationale for harnessing the power of modern education technology and to provide examples of representative technologies.

References and additional reading

Ruiz JG, et al. The impact of e-learning in medical education. Academic Medicine 2006; 81:207-12.
Cook DA, et al. What do we mean by web-based learning? Medical Education 2010:44;765-774.
Issa N, et al. Applying multimedia design principles enhances learning in medical education. Medical Education 2011;45:818-26.

Seminar Archive

Presenter Bios

David H. RobertsDavid H. Roberts, MD is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School (HMS) and the Associate Director of the Shapiro Institute for Education and Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Director of the Office of Undergraduate Medical Education, and Director of the BIDMC Academy of Medical Educators. Dr. Roberts is also the Associate Director of the Academy at HMS.

Dr. Roberts teaches medical students across the four years of HMS training and is course director for the 3rd year longitudinal Principal Clinical Experience (PCE) at BIDMC. Dr. Roberts also teaches residents, fellows and other physicians in practice, and he is a graduate of the Rabkin Fellowship in Medical Education and Harvard-Macy Program for Educators in Health Professions.

Dr. Roberts’ education research interests include studying learner’s curiosity and critical thinking skills. Dr. Roberts serves on the National Education Committees for the American Thoracic Society and the American College of Chest Physicians. He also co-directs the annual Harvard CME course “Principles of Medical Education: Maximizing your Teaching Skills.”

Dr. Roberts has won many teaching awards including “Teacher of the Year” (2005) in the Combined Harvard Program in Pulmonary Medicine, HMS Faculty Prize for Excellence in Teaching (2006), the S. Robert Stone Award for Excellence in Teaching at Harvard Medical School and BIDMC (2007) and the HMS Best Clinical Instructor at BIDMC (2010).

Dr. Roberts is the Director of Faculty Development for the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at BIDMC, and his clinical practice is focused on patients with dyspnea and pulmonary hypertension. Dr. Roberts co-authored the patient education website, www.knowyourph.org, and free downloadable iBook “Pulmonary Hypertension” which utilizes interactive animations to teach patients about pulmonary hypertension.