A 'learning-by-doing' treatment planning tutorial for medical physicists.

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiation Oncology
• Educational Technology

Background:

• Radiation oncology treatment planning requires specialized knowledge and practical skills.
• Existing educational methods may not fully leverage modern treatment planning systems.
• Medical physics students need effective tools to bridge theoretical knowledge and practical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a web-based tutorial framework for radiation oncology physics treatment planning.
• To enhance student understanding of treatment planning processes and the Prism treatment planning system.
• To facilitate student-centered learning and skill development.

Main Methods:

• Development of a web-based tutorial based on the University of Washington's Prism treatment planning system.
• Structuring the tutorial into three modules, each with four units covering Prism features, practical tasks, and assessments.
• Incorporating interactive tools, self-scoring quizzes, and a feedback survey for an engaging learning experience.

Main Results:

• The tutorial effectively guides students through treatment planning concepts and Prism system functionalities.
• The web-based, interactive format promotes student-centered learning and skill acquisition.
• Prism is well-suited for educational purposes, and the tutorial covers key aspects of treatment planning.

Conclusions:

• The developed tutorial provides a self-contained, adjustable, and expandable educational resource for radiation oncology physics.
• It effectively enhances theoretical knowledge and practical skills in treatment planning using modern systems.
• The tutorial shifts learning paradigms towards student-centered engagement and can be made available upon request.