title: The use of a virtual learning environment in promoting virtual journal clubs and case-based discussions in trauma and orthopaedic postgraduate medical education: the Leicester experience.
abstract: The use of journal clubs and, more recently,   case-based discussions in order to stimulate debate among orthopaedic   surgeons lies at the heart of orthopaedic training and education. A   virtual learning environment can be used as a platform to host virtual   journal clubs and case-based discussions. This has many advantages   in the current climate of constrained time and diminishing trainee   and consultant participation in such activities. The virtual environment   model opens up participation and improves access to journal clubs   and case-based discussions, provides reusable educational content,   establishes an electronic record of participation for individuals,   makes use of multimedia material (including clinical imaging and   photographs) for discussion, and finally, allows participants to   link case-based discussions with relevant papers in the journal   club. The Leicester experience highlights the many advantages and some   of the potential difficulties in setting up such a virtual system   and provides useful guidance for those considering such a system   in their own training programme. As a result of the virtual learning   environment, trainee participation has increased and there is a   trend for increased consultant input in the virtual journal club   and case-based discussions. It is likely that the use of virtual environments will expand   to encompass newer technological approaches to personal learning   and professional development.
authors.affiliation: University Hospitals Leicester, Infirmary Square, Leicester LE1 5WW, UK. jp314@le.ac.uk
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Palan
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bloch
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kulkarni
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bhowal
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dias
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004739:England; D006126:Group Processes; D020407:Internet; D019212:Multimedia; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000193:education*; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014584:User-Computer Interface