Educational Tools: Thinking Outside the Box

Abstract

The understanding, study, and use of educational tools and their application to the education of adults in professional fields are increasingly important. In this review, we have compiled a description of educational tools on the basis of the teaching and learning setting: the classroom, simulation center, hospital or clinic, and independent learning space. When available, examples of tools used in nephrology are provided. We emphasize that time should be taken to consider the goals of the educational activity and the type of learners and use the most appropriate tools needed to meet the goals. Constant reassessment of tools is important to discover innovation and reforms that improve teaching and learning.

Keywords: active learning; adult; ambulatory care facilities; education; goals; hospitals; humans; learning; nephrology; tools.

Figure 1.

Roadmap of educational tools available in the different settings where medical education takes place. 3-D, three dimensional.

Figure 2.

Anatomy of a digital badge. Schematic representation of a digital badge consisting of a badge image and various metadata about the learner’s accomplishment. Reprinted from classhack.com, with permission.

Figure 3.

Simulation-based learning. A trainee performing echocardiography on a mannequin in a simulated environment and being observed by a faculty member. Reprinted from SimPORTAL, University of Minnesota and Spicy-Meatball Photography (Joe Vruno).

Figure 4.

Model of kidney anatomy for simulation. This is an example of a three-dimensional model of kidney anatomy that can be constructed and used to create interactive virtual models for teaching anatomy and learning procedures, such as kidney biopsy. Patient-specific models can be created using Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine standards, which can then be converted into meshes and subsequently, three-dimensionally printed. Reprinted from Daniel Burke and Dr. Robert Sweet, SimPORTAL, University of Minnesota.

Figure 5.

The hype cycle. Hype cycle analytical model developed by the information technology research and advisory firm Gartner Incorporated. The five key phases of a technology’s lifecycle are illustrated. The concept has been applied to emerging technology in education (details in the text), from Jeremykemp at English Wikipedia.