Students lead latest E-learning showcase

Dele Davies, M.D., looks on as medical student Joe Marion demonstrates his E-learning module.

Dele Davies, M.D., looks on as medical student Joe Marion demonstrates his E-learning module.

Earlier this month, UNMC students unveiled 19 new e-learning modules, the latest in UNMC’s ongoing E-learning initiative.

The event, held April 21, featured student-driven projects that ranged from “How to Take a Medication History” (from the College of Pharmacy’s Delores Anita Brown and Miranda Hopper) to “Hepatic Vascular Anatomy with Pathologic and Clinical Correlation” (by Joe Marion of the College of Medicine).

For an event program featuring the entire list of student modules and creators, click here.









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Module co-creators Lance Villeneueve, Ph.D., left, and Michael Visenio

The event was the first E-learning showcase since the initiative launched that mainly focused on the student-led projects. It also honored the largest cohort of student developers, with a total of 38 student participants.

Also featured were faculty members from the College of Medicine and College of Dentistry who are redesigning their curriculum by incorporating substantial active learning components, including e-learning.

“What was most impressive today was the consistency in quality across all the projects,” said Dele Davies, M.D., vice chancellor of academic affairs. “People are now innovating and adding different elements to their modules that make them much more interactive than previous ones.

“I think we’ve come to the point now where it’s become part of the culture of the campus. Students and faculty together are able to converse freely about this and appreciate the value of it in so many aspects of teaching and curriculum development.”

Peggy Moore, E-learning instructional designer for academic affairs, agreed with Dr. Davies.

View the modules on Blackboard here.

“The quality of modules has improved every year as we’ve moved through the E-learning program, because we know more about what we’re looking for in an E-learning module,” she said. “Because of this, we’re getting better at advising and guiding students and developers.”

Student developer Marion, a fourth-year medical student, said this module was very interactive.

“We have several different forms of interaction using radiologic images, and also some 3D images, some stills — there are a lot of different ways the learner gets to interact with the module,” he said.

Interaction reinforces the lesson, he said.

“When you hear it once, maybe some things stick, but when you manipulate things, play with it, more things stick. It gives you more quality in your education.”

Marion found the project provided an opportunity to expand and advance his and others’ medical education.

“It’s very exciting to be part of where UNMC is going with this program,” he said. “Secondly, just the technology behind it — technology is something I really enjoy. Being able to use the technology in building this e-module has been a pretty great experience.”