A structured approach to teaching decision-making skills in biomedical ethics

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Ethics Education
• Medical Education Technology

Background:

• Traditional case study methods are prevalent in biomedical ethics education.
• There is a need for innovative pedagogical approaches to develop critical decision-making skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of a new methodology using written exercises against the traditional case study approach in biomedical ethics.
• To outline the course content and computer-assisted instruction (CAI) adaptability of the new methodology.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of teaching methodologies in biomedical ethics.
• Development and description of a new pedagogical approach utilizing short written exercises.
• Exploration of the integration of student-faculty interactive software for CAI.

Main Results:

• The new methodology focuses on developing specific decision-making skills through targeted exercises.
• The proposed approach demonstrates adaptability for implementation within computer-assisted instruction environments.

Conclusions:

• Short written exercises offer a viable alternative to case studies for enhancing decision-making in biomedical ethics.
• The integration of technology, specifically interactive software, can further support and enhance this educational approach.