[569] Pathology Mini Tutorial Video Podcasts for Teaching Medical Students
Geoffrey Hulman. Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom
Background: The widespread availability of the Internet and MP4 enabled devices has created new opportunities and demands for teaching. The production and use of video podcasts was investigated for delivery of pathology teaching to medical students.
Design: The proposal was to create short pathology video podcasts using computer, scanning and video equipment. These were purchased following a successful bid for funds to promote teaching.
The podcasts are created using a Macintosh computer and the iMovie video-making program. Text clips are produced using PowerPoint slides saved as JPEGs. Digitised departmental photographs are added for illustration. Transitions are utilised to emphasize associations between images. The Ken Burns effect is used to pan across and zoom in and out of the pictures. This allows a dynamic demonstration of pathological changes. The voice over sound track is added using the computer's microphone.
The video podcast episodes are saved as MP4 files and uploaded using an RSS feed provided by Nottingham University. They are submitted to iTunes to provide easy access for the students.
Global downloads are monitored for the first month of each new episode. A questionnaire about the podcasts has been circulated to the students for feedback.
Results: The video podcasts are free, available worldwide and may be viewed using iTunes or an alternative RSS reader. By subscribing, new episodes automatically download and synchronise with smart phones, MP4 players and tablets. This enables students to develop a growing library of easily accessible short teaching episodes.
Worldwide downloads average around 2,000 for the first month of each episode. The questionnaire revealed that approximately 80% of students use computers to watch the podcasts despite the huge range of electronic gadgets available. Over 95% of the students find the podcasts useful and they are popular when compared with other ways of learning pathology.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Rating Average | Response Count | |
| Reading | 20.0%(5) | 24.0%(6) | 28.0%(7) | 16.0%(4) | 12.0%(3) | 2.76 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 4.0%(1) | 16.0%(4) | 28.0%(7) | 24.0%(6) | 28.0%(7) | 3.56 | 25 |
| Tutorials | 8.0%(2) | 4.0%(1) | 8.0%(2) | 52.0%(13) | 28.0%(7) | 3.88 | 25 |
| Online Power Point | 8.0%(2) | 36.0%(9) | 28.0%(7) | 16.0%(4) | 12.0%(3) | 2.88 | 25 |
| Video Podcasts | 16.7%(4) | 4.2%(1) | 12.5%(3) | 16.7%(4) | 50%(12) | 3.79 | 24 |