1. The Role of Technology in Medical Education
Babita
Lecturer Sant Baba Bhag Singh Institute of Nursing, Jalandhar
Keywords: Medicine, technology, simulations
Introduction
In the age of Hippocrates, physicians learned by apprenticeship to a master healer. Five
hundred years later, the great researcher, Galen made discoveries in anatomy and physiology
that framed medical curriculum for the next fifteen hundred years. Medical knowledge was
communicated to students in medical colleges and schools through study of books and
literature until the nineteenth century, when renowned scholar Osler Famously insisted that
his students should learn at the patient’s bedside. Later, Abraham Flexnar noted disparities in
medical education and therefore proposed the institutional and curriculum requirements that
define the modern medical education. . New diagnostic and therapeutic techniques coupled
with recent developments in information technology have motivated the educators to adopt
new strategies for training medical students efficiently and effectively.
Today, medical education has changed dramatically, driven by exponential increase in
knowledge. It is not only referred to as a science of healing but rather it is a bedrock on
which high quality health-care system is built. Technology is widely looked upon as a
solution to these increasing educational demands and almost universally accepted as a
positive and necessary step to improve the training of students in medical colleges. These
days, medical schools and colleges, like other educational institutions, are introducing
technology because of its prominence in the present and future. It also is used as a direct
educational tool through virtual patients and simulations. Technology in medical education
refers to innovations that improve learning experience of students by providing a deeper
understanding of a subject area. It may also refer to advancements in emerging technologies
so as to so as to provide the best patient care.
ABSTRACT: Today we are living in a digital era, information age or what we more often
address as jet age. We live in a world where computer, laptops and mobile phones are
predominant. Today we grew up surrounded by the digital media. Our lifestyles are changing
at a rapid pace, whole education system has changed a lot as technology advancements have
touched every facet of our lives and so is true for the field of medical education also. Medicine
is changing at a very rapid pace and so too is the field of medical education. One of the most
important changes that has been introduced in medicine are new educational technologies for
instance, interactive websites, simulation and teleconferencing. New inventions in information
technology, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures have changed the learning experience for
medical graduates and undergraduates. In this paper we will try to find out the impact of new
technologies in our medical schools and colleges.

2. LITERATURE REVIEW:
1. Ali I Imran., “Role of technology and educational research in curriculum
development”.,AAN,Chicago.,2008.
Impact of E-Learning and technology creates a more learner centred models in medical
education. Use of technology increases the efficiency of medical education and it is cost
effective and improves the performance of medical school graduates and post graduates.
2. Slotte virpi.,Wangel micheal.,Lonka kirsti., “Information technology in medical education:
a nationwide project on the opportunities of new technology”.,Blackwell science ltd
(2001).,35.,990-95.
Increased cooperation between different universities has promoted the use of information and
communication technology in medical education in many ways. In particular, we have been
able to exploit the knowledge of separate computer-based teaching programmes developed in
different universities. As a result, we can bring together special knowledge and skills from
different parts of world.This is of great importance because modern technology and digital
learning environments allow different kinds of learning processes.
3. Shamji l Adil., Law marcus., “ The role of technology in medical education: lessons from
university of Toronto”.,UTMJ (2011).,88.
While new technologies have helped to mitigate some of the challenges, they have also posed
unique problems of their own. Due concern must be given to the hidden disadvantages of
learning tools and for the unique and occasionally conflicting goals of students, patients and
teachers. The overall impact of technology on the practice of medicine has both direct and
indirect ramifications for the education of future healthcare professionals.
4. Keswani bright., Banerjee chitreshh., Patni priyadarshi., “ Role of technology in education:
a 21st
century approach”.
In order to educate students to be life-long learners and successful contributors to the new
global market, educators must change the way they teach and the way students learn. We
need to remember that if we want to help students achieve a high level of competency and
competitiveness, we have no choice but to make technology an integrated tool in the field of
education.
OVERVIEW:
Medical education and technology are two separate fields requiring knowledge and skills in
order to achieve competence . Each also has unique challenge that medical students need to
understand. Technology is advancing and shaping medical education by helping medical
students navigate and manage their curriculum, as medical curriculums are prepared and
revised thoroughly so that nothing can be missed, increasing the efficiency and to some
extent difficulty of the training program for the future health care professionals. We will
now examine the educational benefits offered by the technology in diagnostic and therapeutic

3. procedures. Medical schools and colleges of present days have a number of innovative
teaching tools, driven by the latest technologies in medical education. For example:
 Power point or interactive whiteboard learning is capturing the attention of
medical students in the classroom
 Virtual Microscope and electron microscope is used these days in almost all
medical institutions in place of the traditional microscope.
 WISE-MD i.e. (Web-based Initiative in Surgical Education) is a tool for surgical
education, used in the Surgery department. Wise MD provides a computerized linear
narrative of patient illness and patient-physician interaction from the patient's first
visit with his or her physician, through the diagnostic process, into the operating
room, through the laboratory studies and pathology, and finally to the postoperative
visits.
 Now a days audio tutorial instructional packages and study materials are available
making learning process interesting.
 ALEX (Advanced Learning Exchange) is a Sakai-based Learning Management
System that serves as a central resource for online medical education content and
computer-based learning activities.
 Online learning modules are used throughout study to teach and reinforce specific
curricular topics.
 The BioDigital Human is an interactive online virtual human body. It allows
students, using 3D glasses, to view life-sized digital content displayed on a projector
screen in the anatomy lab.
 Teleconferencing is a very useful tool when the medical students and even patients
are widely scattered. The Professors and doctors are able to present lessons and
medical advice respectively through teleconferencing or chatting.
 One of the latest features is mobile apps. Students can view course content, patient
logs, school announcements, and schedules from their smart phones. To make it
easier to study for image-intensive courses, such as pathology or histology, students
can load images onto their phones as digital flashcards. Previously, images like this
were stored in a library, where one student at a time could view a particular image.
Overall impact of technology in medical education
Information Technology has changed the scenario of medical education by providing
unlimited access to knowledge that is essential for clinical competence. Teachers and
students can share learning materials from any where and at any time through cloud
computing. Computer assisted learning [CAL] is becoming popular in classrooms as well
as laboratories of medical colleges. Medical schools and colleges of 21st century are
equipped with interactive white boards, tablets, mp3 players, laptops etc. LCD’s are used in
the classrooms these days for the purpose of learning, thus bringing a new kind of teaching
experience. Computer modeling programs are used by students to learn various subjects
like neuroanatomy. Lessons are also fully recorded allowing students to rewatch

4. lectures. They also learn using a variety of simulation-based technologies
ranging from low-fidelity, web-based case simulations to high-fidelity patient models.
Medical Calculator is an iPhone and iPod touch app that helps doctors and nurses compute
useful formulas and equations. The use of sophisticated medical instruments promises to
deliver better patient care but also places increased demands on the knowledge and skills
that learners must master in their already existing curriculum. The advantages of diagnostic
and therapeutic technologies, if used correctly, are undeniable. In the field of diagnostic and
therapeutic technologies, medical advances such as bedside ultrasound or laparoscopic
surgery improves patient care and patient outcomes. Vast amount of valuable content
available through resources like PubMED (U.S.A. National Library of Medicine, MD,
U.S.A.)or MEDLINE (U.S.A. National Library of Medicine, MD,U.S.A.) proves to be of
great help to the students. Epocrates (Epocrates, Inc., CA, U.S.A.), is the popular
drug database, that delivers frequent updates that are downloaded and used by students,
professors as well as physicians.
Role of teachers and universities in medical education
Earlier the major role of teacher has been the provider of education but this has changed now.
The rapid developments in information technology has reduced the 'shelf life' of textbooks
and lecture notes. The pressure on the teachers of today is to keep up to date. The teachers
have to evaluate the new information regarding their subject and then fit it in with their
previous acquisitions. This editing job is much more demanding than learning a new subject.
New role of the teachers in 21st
century is not only as knowledge provider but also as a Role
model, Mentor and Facilitator, Assessing and Evaluating and Planning.[1]
Teachers should shift to Problem Based Learning (PBL), small group discussions,
assignments and other activities which will prepare the students to become life long self
learners. Teacher should make students aware of the sources of information required to solve
any problem and how to access the available information, how to critically evaluate it and
only then to use it for solving the problem. The most important new role of a medical college
teacher is that of a planner i.e writing objectives, preparing study guide books, and
appropriate assessment tools using latest technology. With students his role is that of a
mentor, facilitator and guide. Communicating with the patient, history taking, physical
examination, performing procedures etc. are skills of the profession. Clinical teachers have
the added responsibility of being role models in dealing with patients. Communication skills
and ethical issues can only be learnt by observing the teachers. No amount of lecturing can
inculcate ethical practices. Students will learn what they actually see in practice.
As medicine grows, so too will the educational technologies that allow medical students
to acquire new knowledge, skills and attitudes. In view of this, Universities should consider
the incorporation of a mandatory curriculum on information technology. Universities should
develop searchable database which aims to promote the sharing and development of
educational content for medical training across the country. Universities and medical colleges
should conduct time to time workshops on educational planning followed by regular staff
meetings where all curriculum planning should be done according to latest technological
developments in the medical field. Medical colleges and universities through out the world

5. should be interconnected with each other for better learning and there should be the provison
of faculty and student exchange program within the universities and colleges
Conclusion
Medicine has evolved through the ages, and so too have the methods used to teach it. This
has been necessary given the growing demand for medical educators to prepare increasing
numbers of students for increasingly complex clinical practice using new and latest
technologies. This is particularly true of advances in information science, educational
technology, and diagnostic and therapeutic medicine. In light of this, educators must be
cautioned to incorporate technology related learning tools into their curriculum judiciously.
Only in this way can the progress of many years be realized in medical education today and
into the future.
References
1. Harden RM, Crosby J. AMEE Guide No. 20: The good teacher is more than a lecturer - the
twelve roles of a teacher. Medical Teacher 2000;22:334-47.
2. Jafarey NA. Andragogy; How adults learn. J Pak Med Assoc 2005;55:114-116.
3. Verma S, Gupta M, Kajil M. et al. Accuracy of cardiovascular (CV) risk stratification
by Canadian primary care physicians; Preliminary results from the
Primary cARe AuDIt of Global risk Management (PARADIGM) Study. Can
J Cardiol. 2010; 26(Suppl D):66D.
4. Network of Excellence in Simulation for Clinical Teaching: SIMone [Internet].
SIMone – Ontario Simulation Network; c2011 [cited3-26-2011]. Available
from: http://www.simulation-network.ca.
5. Association of American Medical Colleges: MedEdPORTAL [Internet].Association
of American Medical Colleges; c2010 [cited 3-26-2011]. Available
from: http://services.aamc.org/30/mededportal/servlet/segment/mededportal/
information.
6. The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada: Canadian Healthcare
Education Commons [Internet].The Association of Faculties of Medicine of
Canada; c.2011 [cited 3-26-2011]. Available from: http://chec-cesc.afmc.ca.
7. Anderson RG. How science and technology will enhance medical education
and training by the year 2039. US

6. should be interconnected with each other for better learning and there should be the provison
of faculty and student exchange program within the universities and colleges
Conclusion
Medicine has evolved through the ages, and so too have the methods used to teach it. This
has been necessary given the growing demand for medical educators to prepare increasing
numbers of students for increasingly complex clinical practice using new and latest
technologies. This is particularly true of advances in information science, educational
technology, and diagnostic and therapeutic medicine. In light of this, educators must be
cautioned to incorporate technology related learning tools into their curriculum judiciously.
Only in this way can the progress of many years be realized in medical education today and
into the future.
References
1. Harden RM, Crosby J. AMEE Guide No. 20: The good teacher is more than a lecturer - the
twelve roles of a teacher. Medical Teacher 2000;22:334-47.
2. Jafarey NA. Andragogy; How adults learn. J Pak Med Assoc 2005;55:114-116.
3. Verma S, Gupta M, Kajil M. et al. Accuracy of cardiovascular (CV) risk stratification
by Canadian primary care physicians; Preliminary results from the
Primary cARe AuDIt of Global risk Management (PARADIGM) Study. Can
J Cardiol. 2010; 26(Suppl D):66D.
4. Network of Excellence in Simulation for Clinical Teaching: SIMone [Internet].
SIMone – Ontario Simulation Network; c2011 [cited3-26-2011]. Available
from: http://www.simulation-network.ca.
5. Association of American Medical Colleges: MedEdPORTAL [Internet].Association
of American Medical Colleges; c2010 [cited 3-26-2011]. Available
from: http://services.aamc.org/30/mededportal/servlet/segment/mededportal/
information.
6. The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada: Canadian Healthcare
Education Commons [Internet].The Association of Faculties of Medicine of
Canada; c.2011 [cited 3-26-2011]. Available from: http://chec-cesc.afmc.ca.
7. Anderson RG. How science and technology will enhance medical education
and training by the year 2039. US