Michigan State University has two medical schools (granting M.D. and D.O. degrees) with different curricula for second-year students. In both colleges, techniques of the neurological exam are taught at the same time as a neuroscience systems course, which includes clinical neuroanatomy review and neuropathology, as well as other selected topics. Several technology resources have been developed for these instructional purposes, to supplement lectures and afternoon group sessions to practice clinical skills. A Neuropathology Self-Instructional Units CD-ROM, provided at no cost to our students, contains didactic material on neuropathology and clinical neuroanatomy, integrative case examples, and practice questions in multiple formats. Case studies to help students work through localization of lesions were available in a Web-based format.

Computer-based materials were developed to supplement the clinical skills sessions with an emphasis on the techniques of a screening neurological exam and the neuroanatomical basis; recently the Supercard stack was converted to a Web-based format. A required Web-based quiz was used to motivate students to review the localization of lesions information and to correlate with the concurrent neuroscience system content. We think that the availability of several modalities of technology resource material and the correlation between basic science content and the clinical skills neurological examination requirements contributed to enhanced student learning. Student evaluation of the experiences will be summarized.

This demonstration will illustrate the use of a variety of technology resources, including Web-based movies and interactive case studies, and a CD-ROM for self-instruction, for second-year medical students. The technology resources were designed both for neurological exam instruction in a Clinical Skills course, and for neuroanatomy review and neuropathology instruction in a neuroscience system course. Evaluation of the resources by students will be included.

Kathryn L. Lovell, Ph.D.
CHM Academic Programs
Dept. Neurology & Ophthalmology
A254 Life Sciences
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824
Phone: 517-353-5440 x221
Fax: 517-432-1051
Email: lovell@msu.edu

CO-AUTHORS:

Mark W. Hodgins, M.A.
College of Osteopathic Medicine
E102 East Fee
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824
Phone: 517-353-4468
Fax: 517-432-2859
Email: hodgins@msu.edu