New technology imperatives in medical education

A great deal of effort has been expended on trying to determine whether traditional instruction, online learning, or some combination of the two is of greater educational effectiveness.1, 2 This may be the wrong question. Rather than determining whether one delivery mechanism is superior to another, it is more important to choose the best method(s) of delivery to achieve specific educational objectives, taking into consideration the different learning styles and circumstances of the target audience. Although appropriate use of technology offers potential for improved learning, there are other compelling reasons to use technology in medical education, such as reaching a different audience or accessing unique expertise that would otherwise be unavailable. This article explores the ramifications of three important drivers of technology adoption for medical education: (1) public access to medical knowledge on the Internet; (2) change in what constitutes medical knowledge; and (3) the impending shortage of educators. Some approaches are proposed, including veterinary examples, to the challenges presented by these changes.