MED-NET Conferences 1998, Lille & 1999, Maastricht
Anthology of presentations 5.6.

The interactive longitudinal class

J. Medrano, J. Núñez, F. Ivorra, A. Compañ, J. Marco, S. Sánchez and M.T. Pérez Vázquez (Alicante, Spain)

In our faculty practical clinical education has been carried out for eight years supported by the so called "workshops of abilities" before doing rotations in hospitals. At the moment and as a complement we have come to replace the classic theoretical class or ‘lección Magistral’ by a process of longitudinal education-learning on an experimental basis, according to the attached scheme. At the present time the theoretical education of medicine cannot be reduced to the classic theoretical lesson. The theoretical explanation of concepts, thematic units, etc. can and must/should be reinforced by means of pedagogical resources nowadays available. On the other hand there is a clear decrease of student's attendance to this type of theoretical classes in Medicine.

Six weeks before the theoretical class, which we call ‘interactive seminary’ the professors-tutors prepare a technical card containing all important data and pedagogical information. One week later it is published and a group of students is invited to participate in the preparation of the thematic unit under the tutor's guidance. Two weeks before the interactive seminary the first version of the contents of the thematic unit -according to the educational objectives - is available on the Faculty's homepage together with images, radiology’s, videos, etc.

From this moment on there is a mailbox for interactive electronic mail between all the students and tutors reflecting on the contents of this version and working on successive versions until the definitive one. In the interactive seminary, open to all the students of the class, after a brief review on the most difficult subjects of the thematic unit, there is a discussion on a series of pre-established items. The interactive electronic mailbox remains open until the day of the internal evaluation, or discussion. All the students' questions and suggestions are attended by the tutors.

During the year of experience it has been possible to prove an increase in student's active participation as well as motivation, pending the evaluation of the learning progress due in the month of April of 1999. Due to the change of attitude and receptivity, at this moment we continue replacing classic theoretical classes by this longitudinal system of education-learning, which we plan to offer to the rest of the faculty.

ISBN Number 90.805758.1.X

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