Author: Brian S McGowan, PhD

Computer-based technologies informed by the science of learning are becoming increasingly prevalent in education and training. For the Department of Defense (DoD), this presents a great potential advantage to the effective preparation of a new generation of technologically enabled service members. Military medicine has broad education and training challenges ranging from first aid and personal protective skills for every service member to specialized combat medic training; many of these challenges can be met with gaming and simulation technologies that this new generation has embraced. However, comprehensive use of medical games and simulation to augment expert mentorship is still limited to elite medical provider training programs, but can be expected to become broadly used in the training of first responders and allied health care providers. The purpose of this supplement is to review the use of computer games and simulation to teach and assess medical knowledge and skills. This review and other DoD research policy sources will form the basis for development of a research and development road map and guidelines for use of this technology in military medicine.

via Designing and using computer simulations in medical … [Mil Med. 2013] – PubMed – NCBI.

Simulations hold great promise for medical education, but not all simulations are effective, and reviews of simulation-based medical education research indicate that most evaluations of the effectiveness of medical simulations have not been of sufficient technical quality to produce trustworthy results. This article discusses issues associated with the technical quality of evaluations and methods for achieving it in evaluations of the effectiveness of medical simulations. It begins with a discussion of the criteria for technical quality, and then discusses measures available for evaluating medical simulation, approaches to scoring simulation performance, and methodological approaches. It concludes with a summary and discussion of future directions in methods and technology for evaluating medical simulations.

via Evaluation of medical simulations. [Mil Med. 2013] – PubMed – NCBI.

Recent advances in the learning sciences offer remarkable potential to improve medical education and maximize the benefits of emerging medical technologies. This article describes 2 major innovation areas in the learning sciences that apply to simulation and other aspects of medical learning: Perceptual learning (PL) and adaptive learning technologies. PL technology offers, for the first time, systematic, computer-based methods for teaching pattern recognition, structural intuition, transfer, and fluency. Synergistic with PL are new adaptive learning technologies that optimize learning for each individual, embed objective assessment, and implement mastery criteria. The author describes the Adaptive Response-Time-based Sequencing (ARTS) system, which uses each learner’s accuracy and speed in interactive learning to guide spacing, sequencing, and mastery. In recent efforts, these new technologies have been applied in medical learning contexts, including adaptive learning modules for initial medical diagnosis and perceptual/adaptive learning modules (PALMs) in dermatology, histology, and radiology. Results of all these efforts indicate the remarkable potential of perceptual and adaptive learning technologies, individually and in combination, to improve learning in a variety of medical domains.

via Adaptive and perceptual learning technologies in med… [Mil Med. 2013] – PubMed – NCBI.