The Use of a Small Private Online Course to Allow Educators to Share Teaching Resources Across Diverse Sites: The Future of Psychiatric Case Conferences?

Acad Psychiatry. 2017 Feb;41(1):81-85. doi: 10.1007/s40596-015-0460-4. Epub 2015 Nov 30.

Abstract

Objective: The authors sought to demonstrate the feasibility of integrating small private online course (SPOC) technology with flipped classroom techniques in order to improve neuroscience education across diverse training sites.

Methods: Post-graduate medical educators used SPOC web conferencing software and video technology to implement an integrated case conference and in-depth neuroscience discussion.

Results: Ten psychiatry training programs from across the USA and from two international sites took part in the conference. Feedback from participants was largely positive.

Conclusion: This pilot demonstrated the feasibility of such a program and provided a diverse audience with the opportunity to engage in an interactive learning experience with expert faculty discussants. This may be a useful model for programs with limited local expertise to expand their teaching efforts in a wide range of topics.

Keywords: Curriculum; Neuroscience; Online learning.

MeSH terms

  • Curriculum*
  • Education, Distance / methods
  • Education, Medical, Graduate
  • Faculty*
  • Humans
  • Internet
  • Neurosciences / education*
  • Teaching*
  • Videoconferencing / instrumentation*