Using Information and Communication Technologies in Medical Education and Clinical Practice

Unit Code

01635

Department/Institution Offering Unit

Biomedical Multimedia Unit
Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences
University of Melbourne
Parkville
Victoria 3010 Australia

web:www.bmu.unimelb.edu.au

Unit Points

Research Points: 87.5

Coursework Points: 12.5

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Contacts

Unit Coordinator/s:

Dr Gregor Kennedy
Biomedical Multimedia Unit
Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
The University of Melbourne
Victoria 3010 Australia

tel: +61 3 8344 8937
fax: + 61 3 8344 4998
email: gek@unimelb.edu.au

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Overall Objectives

This unit is designed to provide students with:

• An introduction to how information and communications technologies can be used to support medical education and clinical practice
• An introduction to the discipline areas of medical and clinical education, educational technology, and/or health informatics
• An understanding of the processes associated with conducting research or evaluation projects in undergraduate medical education, clinically based medical education and training, or professional health practice
• Independent research and evaluation skills including skills in the critical appraisal of information, the design and implementation of a research project, and reporting research project outcomes
• Enhanced oral and written communication skills

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Content

Coursework: Students will undertake either Intermediate Epidemiology and Biostatistics or Qualitative Health Research as part of this project. Students will be required to attend presentations in the BMU's Research and Development seminar series and will present their research in this forum towards the end of their project

Research: The BMU's Research Group investigates how new and emerging technologies can be used to support health science education and health practice in clinical and professional settings. The research group is particularly interested in:

• the design, implementation and evaluation of educational technologies;
• medical and health informatics;
• the use of technology in health practice and professional settings;
• undergraduate students' use of new and emerging technologies; and
• e-science, e-research and computational biology.

Students who undertake a project in this AMS unit will investigate a research topic in one of these areas. Students will typically be supervised by an academic staff member from the BMU and by another staff member from a Department or Clinical School within the Faculty (e.g. Royal Melbourne Hospital Clinical School, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical Education Unit). Research projects will be theoretically based (e.g. in medical education, educational technology, health informatics, clinical education) and may combine quantitative and qualitative approaches to data collection and analysis.

Sample Research Topics:

1. Investigating how PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) could be implemented as logbooks for Clinical School students: A feasibility study.
2. Computer-based decision support: Evaluation and development of a 3D anatomical interface for kidney function and pathology.
3. Investigating how problem-based educational technologies can enhance students' ability to conduct biomedical enquiries.
4. An investigation of individual and collective use of a core educational multimedia resource (An@tomedia). How strongly is usage aligned with the undergraduate Medical curriculum?
5. The Internet in medicine: Trends affecting professional learning and professional practice.
6. Development of 3D virtual reality simulations for surgical training

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Assessment Breakdown

Research Component: 87.5 points
Research Report (up to 9000 words): 85%
Oral presentation: 15%

Coursework Component: 12.5 points
Intermediate Epidemiology and Biostatistics or Qualitative Health Research will be assessed as per subject description.

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Student Numbers

Number of places available:
5