Fostering interactive medical education: integrating Web 2.0 tools through a universal design for learning framework

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Educational Technology
• Digital Pedagogy

Background:

• Effective technology integration is vital for inclusive and engaging learning environments.
• Medical education requires innovative approaches to incorporate technology.
• Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles offer a framework for accessible educational technology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate an experiential faculty development program focused on UDL principles and Web 2.0 tools.
• To assess the impact of this program on technology integration among medical educators.
• To identify factors influencing the adoption and barriers to technology use in medical education.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 262 medical faculty participated in the program between 2020 and 2022.
• Data collection occurred two months post-training using surveys and focus groups.
• The study examined the influence of UDL-based training on the adoption of Web 2.0 tools.

Main Results:

• Significant increase in the use of unfamiliar digital tools like Google Forms (50%) and Wooclap (29.5%).
• Pedagogical benefits such as ease of use, enhanced student engagement, and inclusivity drove tool adoption.
• Key barriers included time constraints and insufficient technical support.

Conclusions:

• Hands-on, practice-based training in digital pedagogy is highly valuable.
• Institutional support is essential for sustaining technology integration in medical education.
• Addressing barriers like time and technical support can facilitate wider adoption of educational technologies.