Using the hypertext software to develop computer-assisted instruction in oncology for medical students.
A new development in computer-assisted medical education has been the introduction of hypertext authoring systems. Authoring systems are computer programs that can allow an instructor to prepare computer-based medical educational materials without the need to know programming languages. Hypertext is a database management system that lets the user connect screens of information using associative links. The authors developed a hypertext authoring system for teaching their medical students the domain of oncology. The features of the system are hierarchical structure, index browsing, and nonsequential browsing. Moreover, the student may become a writer of a hyperdocument by typing a few script commands. In this way the hierarchical structure of a document meets the needs of the reader. Although hypertext brings with it a few difficulties for the student, the authors expect that the system will become a popular mean for organizing textual information for retrieval and browsing in oncology.
Department of Surgery, University of Patras-Medical School, Greece.
S A
SA
Markou
D
D
Koukouras
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T
Pimenidis
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J
Androulakis
D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D003628:Database Management Systems; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000193:education*