A New Way to Integrate Clinically Relevant Technology into Small-Group Teaching

Hugh Silk, Thomas Agresta, Catherine M. Weber
2006 Academic Medicine  
Medical educators need to teach learners to efficiently access the best available evidence at the point of care and apply it in a patient-centered manner. As information becomes more readily available via the Internet and handheld computers, strategies to use these tools as part of the educational process become more important. New teaching skills are needed when attempting to seamlessly introduce technology into small-group settings in the midst of blending old and new teaching methods. The
more » ... hors' development of a conceptual model known as "e-microskills" at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in 2002 has facilitated the smooth integration of technology into teaching. This model's cornerstone is direct empowerment of learners during small-group sessions to perform observed searches for the best medical evidence on the Internet and with handheld computer resources. This is done in the context of a mnemonic, PEARL: (1) Choose a "
doi:10.1097/00001888-200603000-00006 pmid:16501264 fatcat:wzbl6vknjvhq3p3cfbwwehjt5y