Medical student Thomas Enke was talking about acid-based pharmacokinetics.
“It’s something a lot of students kind of struggle with,” he said. “Because it’s acid based, a lot of people freak out.”
But not now. Thanks to Enke and fellow med student Bobby Barnes, who spent about 50 hours each on an e-module that walks you through and tests you on the topic, students can learn it at their own pace — without the stress. And because it was done by students, the e-module does not approach the subject as would a faculty member, who has been an expert for decades.
“We went through it again and taught it in a different way,” Enke said.
“You get a different perspective,” Barnes added.
Their e-learning module was one of nine student-led projects and four faculty curricular redesigns highlighted at the recent E-Learning Showcase “Innovators in Education; Elevating Health Science Curriculum to New Heights.”
The showcase was the cap to a year for the E-Learning Program that saw significant strategic growth, particularly in integration into UNMC’s health science curricula, said Dele Davies, M.D., vice chancellor for academic affairs.
The program’s third cohort of 27 students created e-modules in the areas of biology of disease, pharmacology and pathophysiology with funding from the vice chancellor for academic affairs.
“These areas had been identified by faculty as challenging, interprofessional topics that were often difficult for students to master,” Dr. Davies said.
You’ll recall Enke, the medical student, said the same thing.
But now, he said, “I will never miss a quiz.”
Speaking of quizzes, a good e-module doesn’t just walk you through a topic, but makes sure you know you know it.
“We tried to integrate different kinds of quizzing,” Barnes said.
“We tried to have a few different types of assessments,” Enke said. “We tried to keep the learner engaged.”
“It’s one of those things you could go back to over and over,” Barnes said.
Looking on proudly at the students presenting their e-modules were the E-Learning Program’s external advisory board, Brad Fenwick, D.V.M., Ph.D., Nicholas Lorenzo, M.D., and Ray Schroeder.
“We are excited these new e-modules and others created in the previous cohorts of e-learning are available to UNMC students and faculty at the E-Gallery,” said Director of E-Learning Peggy Moore.
Moore said the modules can be accessed at the E-Gallery.