iPod Learning: Digital Media Library Blends Medical Education and Technology

Students, residents, faculty, and staff statewide are learning about numerous family medicine topics via podcasts available on the DFM's digital media library.

Podcasts are short audio or video clips that can be played back on a computer, a personal media player (such as an iPod), or a phone.

Under the leadership of Melissa Stiles, MD, the digital media library now offers over 25 educational podcasts, and continues to expand.

Getting the Library Up and Running

Dr. Stiles first became interested in using emerging technologies for medical education several years ago. Her research showed that digital media can be an effective tool for education, but the technology must be used appropriately.

"Newer learners like 'Generation Y' want information to be quick and portable," she said. "Podcasts should be brief-under ten minutes-and focus on take-home points."

With that knowledge, Dr. Stiles began developing podcasts on a variety of geriatric topics in 2007-and received positive feedback from residents. One resident commented, "This is a great technology resource. It really provided a great wrap-up of lectures. I would definitely enjoy more of these in the future." Another said, "The benefits of the Podcast format is that the info is condensed and focused, whereas a lecture could be a hour long."

Since then, DFM faculty have created educational podcasts on topics such as cardiovascular medicine, integrative medicine, musculoskeletal examination, and pediatrics. As it develops, the digital media library can also serve as a home for other DFM video projects related to research, recruitment, and faculty development.

How Effective Podcasts Are Made

Dr. Stiles looks forward to growing the digital media library to include more podcasts on a wider variety of educational topics. She encourages faculty to make their areas of expertise available through this new format.

And although transforming an hour-long traditional medical lecture into an effective 5- to 10-minute podcast does require some effort, Dr. Stiles works closely with faculty to help them accomplish this quickly and easily.

First, she reviews the existing presentation and works with faculty to whittle it down to its key points. Then, she develops a set of "interview" questions based on those key points. Finally, she and the faculty member record the interview using a digital voice recorder-right in the office.

Later, DFM Media Specialist Matt Fleming edits together the audio interview and key slides from the faculty's PowerPoint presentation, and posts the final podcast to the library. Users can subscribe to an RSS feed to be notified whenever a new podcast is added to the library.

In addition, many of the DFM's video podcasts can be viewed at the Innovations in Medical Education video library, and also on the DFM's enhanced YouTube channel (Read related story).

Although not all of the DFM's podcasts are set up as a two-person "interview," Dr. Stiles believes that format is more dynamic. "We want to create podcasts that are not only informative, but also captivating," she said. "A format structured around two people talking-rather than one person lecturing-helps us accomplish that."

Related Links

• Read more on creating effective podcasts
• Visit the DFM digital media library
• Read related story on DFM's enhanced YouTube channel