Effective use of technology in gastroenterology training

Abstract

Technology-based education tools provide GI faculty and fellows compelling new instructional possibilities that can portray anatomic and physiologic processes with remarkable clarity. They offer instruction tailored to meet educators' and trainees' needs by allowing learners to practice skills in a safe environment, standardize their instruction and assessment, and be offered anywhere and anytime. Today's digital learners are also accustomed to working within technology-enhanced environments. There is also no doubt that technologies in GI education will evolve and become integrated into our daily professional and personal lives. It is incumbent on clinical educators of gastroenterology to be active leaders in this arena and optimize learning by our trainees through traditional and technologically enhanced methods. The advantages accruing to our trainees who are typically "digital natives" are easy to recognize. The advantage to departments of gastroenterology, which must make a monetary investment in the tech ology, and to GI faculty, who are typically "digital immigrants" and must make a time investment, are less obvious. I am confident that, in the long run, developing new education materials and methods that are technologically based will be a time-saving investment for GI faculty members and will help us to cope with our increasing responsibilities and increasing time constraints. The applicability of technologically advanced educational opportunities does not stop with training in gastroenterology. Many are equally applicable and effective tools for the continuing professional development and life-long learning of practicing gastroenterologists. The material I have presented in this review is one snapshot in time. Technology and its applications are changing and improving at a staggering rate. As yet unimagined opportunities wait in the wings for innovative gastroenterologists and GI trainees to explore and implement. © 2012 AGA Institute.