The computer as a teaching aid: with particular reference to anaesthesia.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Anesthesiology
• Computer Science

Background:

• Computers have been utilized in anaesthetist training for some time.
• Traditional teaching methods have limitations in presenting certain materials.
• The development of portable computers increases accessibility to digital learning tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the potential of computer-aided learning (CAL) in anaesthesia.
• To discuss the role of CAL in enhancing medical education.
• To explore the future of CAL in anaesthetic training and continuing medical education.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing computer-aided learning applications in anaesthesia.
• Discussion of the capabilities of well-constructed educational programs.
• Consideration of the impact of portable computing technology on CAL accessibility.

Main Results:

• Computer programs can realistically present complex anaesthetic scenarios.
• Portable computers make advanced teaching aids accessible to a wider audience.
• CAL is a powerful tool for supplementing traditional anaesthetic education.

Conclusions:

• Computer-aided learning is poised to significantly impact anaesthetic training.
• CAL offers unique advantages for presenting specialized medical material.
• The future of anaesthetic education, especially continuing medical education, will likely involve increased use of CAL.