Integration of advanced technologies to enhance problem-based learning over distance: Project TOUCH

Area of Science:

• Medical Education Technology
• Telehealth
• Distance Learning

Background:

• Rapid advancements in communication technology have increased distance education delivery.
• The National Computational Science Alliance's Access Grid offers potential for distance medical education.
• Geographic barriers limit access to medical training for students at remote sites.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of the TOUCH project (Telehealth Outreach for Unified Community Health).
• To detail the development of problem-based learning cases for distribution via the Access Grid.
• To demonstrate the use of Internet-based technology to overcome geographic barriers in medical education.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing the Access Grid for delivering tutorial sessions to remote medical students.
• Developing a patient simulation engine and virtual reality environment for realistic healthcare scenarios.
• Creating and distributing a traumatic head injury case study over the Access Grid.

Main Results:

• The TOUCH project successfully demonstrated a computer-based learning system for problem-based learning cases.
• A traumatic head injury case was developed and distributed via the Access Grid.
• The system is adaptable for other educational disciplines, including functional and clinical anatomy.

Conclusions:

• The TOUCH project effectively uses emerging Internet technology to enhance medical education delivery to remote sites.
• Problem-based learning case development for the Access Grid is feasible and beneficial.
• Future phases will focus on PC versions for wider distribution and accessibility.