Medical undergraduates using the Internet as an information technology teaching tool

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Informatics
• Information Technology in Medicine

Background:

• The internet is a vital information resource across sectors, including education.
• Delivering medical education online offers flexibility in time and location for students.
• Monash University's Faculty of Medicine aims to provide advanced IT resources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the methods used by the Unit of Medical Informatics to teach medical undergraduates internet utilization.
• To illustrate the technical considerations for establishing and maintaining an effective student internet facility.

Main Methods:

• Curriculum integration of internet resources for medical informatics.
• Development and implementation of a student-focused internet facility.
• Focus on practical skills and technical aspects of online resource management.

Main Results:

• Medical students are being trained to effectively use the internet for their studies.
• The establishment of a dedicated student internet facility is detailed.
• Technical insights into running such a facility are provided.

Conclusions:

• Internet-based learning is a feasible and valuable component of medical education.
• Effective teaching of internet resources enhances students' overall IT literacy.
• The technical infrastructure is crucial for successful implementation of online learning facilities.