Small-group interactive computer-assisted teaching

A form of teaching developed at the Montreal General Hospital over the past 6 years which involves small groups of students, a tutor and computer assistance is described. The major supposition of the paper is that constant interaction with students on a question-and-answer basis is the most efficient form of teaching. With this method, areas of weakness and lack of comprehension of concepts can be easily and rapidly identified. Patient Management Problems (PMPs) on the computer are used in order to supply the questions that constitute the basis of the tutorial. These questions may then be expanded upon by the personal experience of the tutor. The feedback to the student inherent in this method allows for immediate rectification of problems. An attempt is made to validate the efficacy of this form of teaching with a literature review.