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A crowdsourcing model for creating preclinical medical education study tools
Hansen C Bow1, Jonathan R Dattilo, Andrea M Jonas
1Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Summary
Medical students used a crowdsourcing flashcard system to create over 16,000 study questions, improving exam performance. This collaborative learning model proved effective and user-friendly for mastering complex information.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Educational Technology
- Collaborative Learning
Background:
- Medical students face challenges memorizing vast amounts of information during preclinical studies.
- Team-based learning and crowdsourcing are emerging trends in education and technology.
- Developing effective, collaborative study tools is crucial for academic success.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the development and implementation of a crowdsourcing model for creating medical study materials.
- To evaluate the impact of this collaborative flashcard system on student exam performance.
- To assess student satisfaction and perceived value of the crowdsourcing tool.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Google Drive and a Java software program for a collaborative flashcard system.
- Implemented a crowdsourcing model enabling simultaneous access and editing of study materials.
- Collected and analyzed exam scores and conducted student surveys.
Main Results:
- Medical students created a database of over 16,000 study questions.
- Students using the system outperformed peers who did not.
- Surveys indicated high user satisfaction and perceived value of the study tool.
Conclusions:
- The crowdsourcing flashcard model is a simple, user-friendly, and effective tool for collaborative learning.
- This approach significantly improved medical students' exam performance.
- The model is adaptable for use in various educational disciplines.
