Review of Learning Tools for Effective Radiology Education During the COVID-19 Era

Abstract

COVID-19 has significantly disrupted medical education around the world and created the risk of students missing vital education and experience previously held within actively engaging in-person activities by switching to online leaning and teaching activities. To retain educational yield, active learning strategies, such as microlearning and visual learning tools are increasingly utilized in the new digital format. This article will introduce the challenges of a digital learning environment, review the efficacy of applying microlearning and visual learning strategies, and demonstrate tools that can reinforce radiology education in this constantly evolving digital era such as innovative tablet apps and tools. This will be key in preserving and augmenting essential medical teaching in the currently trying socially and physically distant times of COVID-19 as well as in similar future scenarios.

Most Integrated Virtual Images of the Bones in the Teaching of Human Anatomy: Are There Any Differences Between Online and on-Site Tutor?

“…Despite this, how anatomy tutors and students create, access, view and interact with images has changed dramatically over the last 20 years (Hennessy & Smith, 2020). Different active learning strategies are increasingly utilized in the new and updated digital formats (Chen, Ayoob, Desser, & Khurana, 2021). Medical students appreciate the opportunity to use new interactive models (Wu et al, 2020) or 3D-printed models (Kazoka, Pilmane, & Edelmers, 2021).…”

Conference Attendance Tracking and Evaluation in the Era of Virtual Conferences

“…The coronavirus pandemic upended radiology education due to social distancing measures and restrictions on social gatherings, which prevented in-person resident conferences. This required institutions to rapidly find innovative methods to maintain resident education often through novel digital methods ( 6 ). Successful implementations of virtual education in radiology often emphasized visual tools and micro-learning, providing resources for condensed individualized digital learning ( 6 , 7 ).…”

“…This required institutions to rapidly find innovative methods to maintain resident education often through novel digital methods ( 6 ). Successful implementations of virtual education in radiology often emphasized visual tools and micro-learning, providing resources for condensed individualized digital learning ( 6 , 7 ). Many institutions adopted platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, or Cisco WebEx for hosting virtual conferences ( 7 ).…”

Formación online en Radiología en tiempos de COVID

“…La pandemia por COVID-19 ha alterado de forma significativa la metodología que tradicionalmente se ha empleado para la enseñanza de la Radiología en pregrado, posgrado y formación continuada 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 . La suspensión de las clases presenciales y de las prácticas clínicas ha repercutido negativamente en la formación teórica y práctica de los estudiantes de Medicina 2 .…”

“…La suspensión de las sesiones clínicas, de las reuniones de los comités multidisciplinares y de las jornadas, cursos y congresos, ha supuesto un freno a la formación médica continuada de los radiólogos especialistas. Estos obstáculos han llevado a la búsqueda de alternativas que paliasen las consecuencias negativas de la pandemia en la formación en Radiología y han conducido al uso extensivo de otros métodos de enseñanza 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 .…”