Computer — Based Modules for Medical Education and Distance Learning in Brazil and Germany.
Sylvia Handl Ferando Menezes da Silva, Tim Müller, Johannes
W. Dietrich, Matthias Holzer, Martin Fischer and Adelbert Roscher
Universidade Federal de Roraima, Boa Vista, Brazil and Ludwig-Maximilian University
Munich, Germany
ABSTRACT
The recently founded medical faculty of the University of Roraima, Boa Vista in northern Brazil is a dynamically growing institution with a complete problem-based curriculum. The reformed curriculum serves as a model for other Brazilian schools and has recently received very high rankings by governmental bodies. This specific teaching environment is ideally suited to evaluate the feasibility of computer-based learning modules in PBL and to address cross-cultural aspects in medical education.
Because of the area being populated with a large number of native Indians the medical curriculum offers a wide variety of infectious and tropical disease problems and rich experience with their treatment. This knowledge, when transferred in learning modules, will enrich the curriculum not only in Brazil but even more in Germany where tropical diseases are uncommon. On the other hand, as the teaching body of the medical faculty in Boa Vista is small, the Brazilian university lacks specific expertise in genetics. It is therefore intended to create a virtual case-based course in genetics in Munich, Germany. Both teaching modules will be evaluated by the partner institutions in their respective curricula.
The project technically builds on an innovative and successfully introduced case-based learning system (CASUS/ProMediWeb) that was developed at the Universities of Munich and Düsseldorf. CASUS/ProMediWeb is already an integral part in parts of the clinical curricula at several German universities. The CASUS/ProMediWeb-system allows for a rapid and well structured authoring process of medical case modules.
The medical faculty of the University of Munich has recently introduced problem-based courses in the clinical curriculum. The extension to the pediatric course is currently being performed as part of this project. This includes first pilot implementation of the CBT modules. It is planned to accomplish this developmental process with a phase zero study to evaluate the impact of the casus modules on the success of learning pediatrics.
ProMediWeb supports co-operative learning in virtual cross-cultural seminars with synchronous and asynchronous communication.