Medical education - using interactive learning

Abstract

‘The undergraduate curriculum should seek to promote a more self-educative approach’. That statement by the General Medical Council in July 1990 coincided with the restructuring of the medical curriculum at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. One of the main proposals was the introduction of self-directed learning to reduce didactic teaching in the clinical years of the course. This has led to the development of interactive learning, using learning resources appropriate to the subject being delivered, and particularly to the introduction of computer-assisted learning. This represents a major change in the way medical students are taught, which has implications for all involved in medical education. For staff, it means taking a fresh look at the way they plan and present their teaching. For students, developing the ability to take responsibility for their own learning throughout their working lives can be a challenge but is of paramount importance for effective continuing medical education.