Medical students are open to learning using new media

American Medical News writes, "Med students open to learning via new media. However, their differing opinions about the games they would like to use and their effectiveness present obstacles."

The study defined new media as computer and video games, virtual-reality environments, social networks, websites, mobile devices, blogs and podcasts.

Do medical students even have time to play computer games? Perhaps if they all have an Apple iPad, they can squeeze 5 or 10 minutes to play a short little computer game. These games could be designed to be very educational. Wouldn't you love a little study break before your gross anatomy exam? Take your study break on the iPad and play a little anatomy game that will teach you the brachial plexus. Or, maybe you need to practice for the OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) by going through a virtual simulation.

I believe that novel new media technologies will significantly impact the world of medical education, graduate medical education, and even continuing medical education.

Here are some of the links mentioned in the American Medical News article:

"Medical student attitudes toward video games and related new media technologies in medical education," BioMed Central, June 24 (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20576125)

"Learning in a Virtual World: Experience With Using Second Life for Medical Education," Journal of Medical Internet Research, January (www.jmir.org/2010/1/e1)