Teaching a difficult topic using a problem-based concept resembling a computer game: development and evaluation of an e-learning application for medical molecular genetics

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216208%3A11130%2F19%3A10399307" target="_blank" >RIV/00216208:11130/19:10399307 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/00216208:11310/19:10399307

Result on the web

<a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-019-1817-2" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-019-1817-2</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12909-019-1817-2" target="_blank" >10.1186/s12909-019-1817-2</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Teaching a difficult topic using a problem-based concept resembling a computer game: development and evaluation of an e-learning application for medical molecular genetics

Original language description

BACKGROUND: Genetic testing rapidly penetrates into all medical specialties and medical students must acquire skills in this area. However, many of them consider it difficult. Furthermore, many find these topics less appealing and not connected to their future specialization in different fields of clinical medicine. Student-centred strategies such as problem-based learning, gamification and the use of real data can increase the appeal of a difficult topic such as genetic testing, a field at the crossroads of genetics, molecular biology and bioinformatics. METHODS: We designed an electronic teaching application which students registered in the undergraduate Medical Biology course can access online. A study was carried out to assess the influence of implementation of the new method. We performed pretest/posttest evaluation and analyzed the results using the sign test with median values. We also collected students&apos; personal comments. RESULTS: The newly developed interactive application simulates the process of molecular genetic diagnostics of a hereditary disorder in a family. Thirteen tasks guide students through clinical and laboratory steps needed to reach the final diagnosis. Genetics and genomics are fields strongly dependent on electronic databases and computer-based data analysis tools. The tasks employ publicly available internet bioinformatic resources used routinely in medical genetics departments worldwide. Authenticity is assured by the use of modified and de-identified clinical and laboratory data from real families analyzed in our previous research projects. Each task contains links to databases and data processing tools needed to solve the task, and an answer box. If the entered answer is correct, the system allows the user to proceed to the next task. The solving of consecutive tasks arranged into a single narrative resembles a computer game, making the concept appealing. There was a statistically significant improvement of knowledge and skills after the practical class, and most comments on the application were positive. A demo version is available at https://medbio.lf2.cuni.cz/demo_m/ . Full version is available on request from the authors. CONCLUSIONS: Our concept proved to be appealing to the students and effective in teaching medical molecular genetics. It can be modified for training in the use of electronic information resources in other medical specialties.

Czech name

—

Czech description

—

Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

10600 - Biological sciences

Project

<a href="/en/project/NV17-29423A" target="_blank" >NV17-29423A: Analysis of genetic variants associated with intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders using next generation sequencing</a><br>

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2019

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

BMC Medical Education

ISSN

1472-6920

e-ISSN

—

Volume of the periodical

19

Issue of the periodical within the volume

1

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

8

Pages from-to

390

UT code for WoS article

000492858800001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85074075933