Continued multidisciplinary project-based learning - implementation in health informatics.
OBJECTIVE
Problem- and project-based learning are approved methods to train students, graduates and post-graduates in scientific and other professional skills. The students are trained on realistic scenarios in a broader context. For students specializing in health informatics we introduced continued multidisciplinary project-based learning (CM-PBL) at a department of medical informatics. The training approach addresses both students of medicine and students of computer science.


METHODS
The students are full members of an ongoing research project and develop a project-related application or module, or explore or evaluate a sub-project. Two teachers guide and review the students' work. The training on scientific work follows a workflow with defined milestones. The team acts as peer group. By participating in the research team's work the students are trained on professional skills.


RESULTS
A research project on a web-based information system on hospitals built the scenario for the realistic context. The research team consisted of up to 14 active members at a time, who were scientists and students of computer science and medicine. The well communicated educational approach and team policy fostered the participation of the students. Formative assessment and evaluation showed a considerable improvement of the students' skills and a high participant satisfaction.


CONCLUSIONS
Alternative education approaches such as project-based learning empower students to acquire scientific knowledge and professional skills, especially the ability of life-long learning, multidisciplinary team work and social responsibility.
Wessel
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Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany. wessel@uni-mainz.de
Spreckelsen
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D006751:Hospital Information Systems; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D020407:Internet; D008490:Medical Informatics; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods*