Students have similar questions during a course. The answers are generally available to only the student that asked the question.
In-class exam review does not cover a wide range of questions and often provides too much detail for those questions asked. In addition, students tend not to ask what is perceived as the "ill formed" question.
Fig 2: Keyword search example
Solution
Interactive Multimedia Q & A Database
A database with multimedia enhanced search capabilities delivers content within a short time frame for review in the medical school course.
As a complement to the study of the course material, this tool also has the benefit of fostering and improving faculty - student interaction. Students identify criteria to aid or limit their ability to learn effectively during a lecture.
Tools
Hardware includes a streaming media server and a digital drawing tablet with stylus. Faculty use desktop video capture software not only to digitize illustrated explanations. The software also aids the formatting process and posting to the database.
Fig 3: Key word search and results
DESCRIPTION
I) Student interface
- Students post lecture-related questions
- Answers are searchable by lecture or keyword
- To enter a term, students choose the lecture
- The system searches for and displays similar questions to reduce potential redundancy
- The student is able to cancel or add a new question
- Student entry is anonymous
- All questions are viewable
- Faculty can select those they will answer, or respond "beyond the scope of this course"
- Faculty can also edit or add questions on their own or refine a student's question
- All questions and answers are archived for future classes