Cross-disciplinary perspectives on the transition to remote education

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Technology Enhanced Learning
• Distance Education

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the cancellation of in-person clinical training and teaching at medical institutions globally.
• Experiential learning, crucial for clinical skills and procedural knowledge, faced significant disruption.
• Adapting hands-on medical education for remote delivery presented a substantial challenge, driving innovation in educational technology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how educators across disciplines utilize technology for remote practical skills-based learning.
• To document the transition to technology-enhanced remote teaching through interdisciplinary collaboration.
• To identify best practices for optimizing the remote teaching of procedural knowledge and skills.

Main Methods:

• A cross-disciplinary group of five experienced educators (surgery, medicine, music, magic) engaged in five structured conversations.
• Literature review on distance learning in medicine and professional educational experience informed the study.
• Analysis of shared experiences to derive actionable recommendations for remote skills-based education.

Main Results:

• Seven key recommendations were identified for optimizing technology-enhanced remote teaching of procedural skills.
• Recommendations include embracing necessity, managing the learning environment, setting clear expectations, purposeful communication, utilizing digital resources, preparing for technical issues, and personalizing the educational approach.
• Cross-disciplinary perspectives enriched the understanding of technology-enhanced learning.

Conclusions:

• Technology-enhanced learning offers innovative solutions for delivering practical skills-based education remotely.
• A cross-disciplinary approach to technology-enhanced learning in medical education provides valuable insights and enhances teaching strategies.
• The identified recommendations provide a framework for educators to effectively adapt and deliver procedural skills training in remote settings.