This document outlines a project to develop a digital platform to improve problem-based learning for medical students. It describes issues with the current paper-based system and proposes a web portal and iPad app to allow for organized note-taking, continuous feedback between students and supervisors, and flexibility for mobile use. A prototype was created using Django, Python, and Objective-C. Usability testing with medical students provided positive feedback but also identified minor flaws. Further development and "production" testing are needed, including improved authentication, more testing, and integration with tools like Jenkins. The goal of improving communication and learning through new technologies seems achievable but requires real-world testing over time.

1. Utilizing New Technologies for the Improvement of
Problem Based Learning in Medical Education
Georg Kitz, g.kitz@student.tugraz.at

2. Outline
• Problem Definition / Motivation
• Learning Methods
• Technology Stack
• Prototype
• Usability Testing
• Improvements
• Follow Up Strategies
• Results
• Questions

3. Problem Definition / Motivation
• Practical Year at Medical University of Graz
• Students work on real cases in hospitals
• Students are assigned to 3 supervisors
• Supervisors are guides for questions
• Communication and feedback works with paper reports
• Grading based on the reports

4. Problem Definition / Motivation
• Student issues
• Organised note taking and reporting
• Organising multiple case files
• Continuous feedback and guidance
• Supervisor issues
• Handling high student numbers, beside their everyday job
• Delivering fast feedback and guidance
• Multiple supervisor communication

5. Is it possible to improve Problem Based Learning
by using modern technologies?

6. Problem Definition / Motivation
• From paper and pen to a modern online reporting and
feedback tool
• Introducing new technologies to the field of Medical
Education
• Integrated flexibility for student users (mobile devices)

7. Learning Methods
• Active Learning vs. Passive Learning
• Problem Based Learning
• Teacher selects topics to work on
• Student gathers as much information as possible on
his own about the topic
• Teacher is a guide who helps students if needed

8. Prototype / Technologie Stack
Web portal for Supervisors
Web portal for Students
iPad App for Students

9. Technologie Stack
Webportal
Django / Python Postgres
iOS App
Objective C / Cocoa
REST API

10. Prototype / Webportal for supervisors

11. Prototype / Webportal for supervisors
• Shows every change a student made at one glance
• Browse through all versions of a student’s report
• See comments of all other supervisors
• Enable comment-function based on hierarchical level

12. Prototype / iPad App for students

13. Prototype / iPad App for students
• Allows instant reporting in front of the patient
• Allows asking questions as and when they occur
• Allows easy multiple case file handling
• Instant access to supervisors’ feedback
• Improved student + supervisor interaction

14. Usability Testing
• Thinking Aloud as testing method
• 3 medical students each performing 5 tasks

15. Usability Testing / Positive Feedback
✓ Overall feedback was positive and indicated that the use
of the novel system is beneficial for all parties involved
“it is a tremendous timesaver in comparison to the
paper and pen approach and makes the duty of filling
in case files quite enjoyable”

16. Usability Testing / Minor Flaws + Suggestions
- Differences between iPad and Web Portal
➡ Missing Traffic Light System
➡ History Button Inconsistency
- Mark unprocessed entries
- Mark last commented entry
- Improved image handling

17. Follow Up Strategies
• Test the supervisor part
• Deploy the system in “production”
• Better authentication strategy
• Add unit testing to build a less error prone system
• Add cucumber/selenium for automatic UI testing
• Add Jenkins for integration tests in order to have fail safe
releases

18. Results
• Successfully built a web portal
• Successfully built an iPad app
• Successfully tested the student part with usability tests
• Students approved that the system would be a significant
improvement

19. Is it possible to improve Problem Based Learning
by using modern technologies?

20. It’s principally possible, but the system needs to be
tested in a real environment over a longer
timespan!

21. Questions?