An Analysis of Web-Based Instruction in a Neurosciences Course

Among the recent trends in medical education is the increased use of computeraided instruction (CAI), particularly via the World Wide Web. While there have been many studies comparing CAI to traditional instruction, there are relatively few studies that analyze the benefits of web-assisted instruction. Presently, many medical schools have initiatives to web-enable significant portions of their curriculum. To maximize the potential of the medium, educators must carefully plan and design their educational materials and do more than put their syllabus online. Technical issues such as user interface design, access and availability play an important role in determining how students will receive such materials. Furthermore, the web-based portion of a course must be properly integrated with more traditional educational modalities such as lectures and labs. The following paper describes the planning and implementation of web-based materials in a pilot project involving a medical neurosciences course.