Peter Krauß, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Felix V. Guettler, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jonathan Guntermann, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Andreas Heinrich, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jens Rump, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ulf Karl Martin Teichgraeber MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Problem-based learning (PBL) proved to be very efficient in radiological training and further education, especially through the interactive cooperation of the participants. Besides, radiological training and further education heavily depends on visual perception and therefore benefits notably from image-based eLearning systems. Hence, the goal was to transfer the advantages of PBL into eLearning-based training and further education and to thereby keep the collaborative aspect of the learning concept.

An underlying Wiki system (TWiki) allows the collaborative work on the presented case data. The case data may be in text form or other digital source data, i.e. radiologic image data or movie clips. A Flex-based voice chat allows real-time communication between the participants. Moreover, the system enables its’ users to collaboratively visualize their findings in fully synchronized real-time mind-maps. Both tools update users in real-time, via a dedicated server (Red 5), of any changes to entries into the system and thus allowing for smooth collaboration between all participating individuals. The system’s efficiency was evaluated heuristically with a catalogue of predetermined criteria. Finally, 10 volunteers were asked to fill out a standardized questionnaire after using the newly designed system.

The implemented system was employed to held POL courses location-independent. Communication was unrestricted throughout the learning session, as the system enables fully automatic real-time communication between all participating users. The mind-map tool allowed for consistent and collaborative teamwork to graphically visualize the gathered data. The heuristic evaluation revealed that only 7 criteria out of 113 could not be performed and that therefore an intuitive usability can be assumed. According to the 5-grade-scale, the support of the PBL sessions through a voice chat was judged as „good“ by the participants (2.18).

The presented eLearning system offers the possibility of PBL-based, location-independent courses and enables the intuitive collaboration of PBL participants through VoiceChat and MindMap.

Apart from clinical education, the system also fulfills all criteria for time- and cost-efficient continued medical education (CME) for licensed doctors, especially from outside the conurbations.

Krauß, P, Guettler, F, Guntermann, J, Heinrich, A, Rump, J, Teichgraeber, U, Problem-based eLearning with Live Online Collaboration in Radiology Training and Further Education.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11000068.html