An internet-based learning portfolio in resident education: the KOALA multicentre programme

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Digital Learning Tools
• Resident Training

Background:

• Self-directed learning is crucial for medical residents' professional development.
• Traditional learning methods may not fully cater to the evolving needs of residents.
• A need exists for innovative, technology-driven learning portfolios in obstetrics and gynecology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Computerized Obstetrics and Gynecology Automated Learning Analysis (KOALA) program, an internet-based learning portfolio.
• To evaluate the impact of the KOALA program on residents' self-perceived self-directed learning abilities.

Main Methods:

• The KOALA program facilitated residents' documentation of patient encounters and critical learning incidents.
• Residents used the program to reflect on experiences and pursue evidence-based literature via hypertext links.
• A pilot study involved four Canadian residency programs comparing a KOALA-exposed school with KOALA-naive schools using validated questionnaires and statistical analysis (Mann-Whitney U, Student t-test).

Main Results:

• Over 7000 patient encounters and 1400 critical learning incidents were recorded by 41 residents.
• Residents in the KOALA-exposed school demonstrated significantly higher self-perceived self-directed learning abilities (P < 0.05).
• Exposed residents anticipated less future learning from continuing medical education, textbooks, and lectures, favoring learning portfolios with online resources.

Conclusions:

• The internet-based, multicenter KOALA learning portfolio significantly enhanced residents' perception of their self-directed learning capabilities.
• KOALA represents an effective tool for fostering self-directed learning in postgraduate medical education.
• This technology promotes a shift towards more autonomous and resource-integrated learning approaches for residents.