COMPUTERS IN TEACHING MEDICINE

Medicine is a highly visual subject and lends itself to multimedia presentations in computer-assisted learning. Evidence from a small number of evaluations is now emerging showing that such teaching and learning materials are effective, and generally well accepted by students. The same message is also coming from subjects outside medicine. There are examples of the large-scale use of computers successfully delivering drill-and-practice teaching. From Europe there is an example of computer tutorials being particularly effective for the weaker student and an enthusiasm from students for education assisted by computer. There is evidence, at least indicative, that clinical skills can be taught through computer mediation, and that higher skills and abilities such as communication are also amenable to support by computer.