Using Mnemonics and Spatial Visualization to Retain Critical Knowledge

by Robbie Ross, PharmD, PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Resident, G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center

A student ruffles through his notes, textbook, and lectures for several hours trying to cram every last bit of information before the upcoming pharmacology exam. He arrives on test day, reads the first question, and his heart sinks; he knows he read about it, but just can’t remember the answer. Memory is an important part of teaching/learning and involves more than just recollection. Memory involves the learning, understanding, and the ability to link information together whether it was taught or experienced/researched on one’s own. When a teacher evaluates a student’s memory through tests, they are assessing more than just recall, but rather a deeper understanding of the information.

Students today live in an age of technology where information is always available at their fingertips and many students come to believe that recalling information really isn’t as important as it used to be. For example, how many of us can recall a friend’s phone number any more? Moreover, we are more likely to remember things we find interesting, which can pose a challenge in some classes. Students are more likely to achieve higher marks in courses related to their major or in electives, and more likely to struggle in general education classes.¹

The responsibility for remembering and retaining information is mutual — both the student and the teacher need to do their part. Educators need to pay attention to the “learning” aspect of “teaching/learning” and help students develop strategies to retain and understand the information. When a student is presented with new information, it is first held in short-term (aka working) memory while it is processed. Short-term memory is limited in capacity and duration — only five to nine items can be held in short-term memory for about ten to twenty seconds.²

This is where memory aids can come in handy. Several strategies have proven effective to facilitate memorization and long-term retention including mnemonics and spatial visualization.

• Mnemonics are strategies for associating words or phrases with a list of facts or principles.
• Spatial visualization involves assigning pieces of information with everyday actions and objects. Then when it is time to recall the information, imagining those actions and objects associated with the information.

Another technique this is often used to memorize information is repeating.  Repeating is simply that, repeating the information to keep it in short-term memory. Unfortunately, repeating doesn’t move the information into long-term memory. Moreover, short-term memory has a limited capacity, so it’s difficult to retain large amounts of information when we rely on repeating. Cramming for an exam is a common example where students often use the repeating method to pass a test but fail to recall the information days or week later.²

Many of us first learned about mnemonics in childhood. For example, “Every Good Boy Does Fine” was a useful way to remember the major musical notes and “Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally” was a mnemonic I learned to remember the order of operations in middle school math class. Other methods used in our early schooling included rhymes to remember what year “Columbus sailed the ocean blue” and the months that have 30 days. While mnemonics were useful for retaining these “elementary school” concepts, can these principles be applied to college-level courses where the content is much more detailed and sophisticated? In short, yes! One study tested the use of mnemonics in college students who were required to match a portrait to the name of its artist. Students who used mnemonics to recall the information significantly outperformed those who did not.³ The technique has been used to teach engineering students.  Eighty percent of the students reporting they benefited from the use of mnemonics and believe it help improved their exam scores.³

Mnemonics are rarely used in pharmacy school and vast amounts of information are presented to students from PowerPoint slides. From my experience, cramming for tests is common and most student use the repeating method, reading and re-reading handouts and notes as many times as possible shortly before an exam. This works well for some types of information and for a short period of time (long enough to remember it for the exam), but it is soon forgotten. A few instructors (but not many) still include memory aids in their presentations.  I still remember “Please Let Grandma Brown Bring Peaches To Your Wedding” as a way of remembering the colors of warfarin tablets (pink/ lavender/ green/ brown/ blue/ peach/ teal/ yellow/ white). However, mnemonics are used far less often in college than in elementary school.

Another memory aid that health professional students could use is SketchyPharm and SketchyMedical.com which uses spatial visualization to help learners understand complex topics. This is a subscription-based service first developed for medical students but has one section specifically related to pharmacy topics. A picture is presented and each item in the picture is associated with a more complex piece of information, and essentially helps the student visualize what they are learning through storytelling. This gives the phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words” a whole new meaning.⁴ While there are no peer reviewed research articles (yet) to support its effectiveness, medical students from the University of North Carolina rated the use SketchyPharm higher than many other common exam prep techniques (like flash cards) and 83% of students claimed they used it to study for their Step 1 medical licensure exam.⁵

The use of memory aids diminishes as a student progress from elementary school, to high school, to college, and beyond. Why?  Memory aids work and instructors should be using mnemonics and encouraging students to use spatial visualization to not only recall information but move important facts out of short-term memory. There are lots of websites to help create mnemonics; so, there no excuse not to incorporate them into lectures in combination with active learning activities. Encouraging students to use SketchyPharm or spatial visualization strategies during and after a lecture can really solidify the information being taught.

References

1. Comtois T. Using Memory to Become a more Effective Advisor [Internet]. Manhattan (KS): NACADA Clearinghouse of Academic Advising Resources; 2006 Nov [cited 2020 Feb 22].
2. Banikowski AK, Mehring TA. Strategies to enhance memory based on brain-research. Focus on Exceptional Children [Internet]. 1999 Oct [cited 2020 Feb 22];32(2).
3. Dave H, Awasthi S. An Investigation of the Role of Mnemonics in Higher Education. Proceedings of International Conference on Digital Pedagogies (ICDP) 2019 [Internet]. 2019 Apr 21 [cited 2020 Feb 22].
4. SketchyMedical [Internet]. Sketchy Group, LLC; 2018 [cited 2020 Feb 22]
5. Keepers B, Oh L. Step 1 Preparation: 2020 Hindsight. University of North Carolina [Internet]. 2018 May [cited 2020 Feb 2022].

The Utility of Debates as an Alternative Instructional Method

by Amanda Bridges, PharmD, PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Resident, University of Mississippi Medical Center 

The landscape of education is ever-changing with educators pioneering fresh ideas to disseminate knowledge and maintain student engagement. While traditional lectures remain a mainstay in many health professional degree programs, students often struggle to make meaningful connections with the subject matter. Healthcare topics are often complex and require motivation and engagement from students to apply content to future experiences. Studies have shown that active involvement in learning results in more favorable outcomes. The success of any teaching strategy is dependent on successful execution by the instructor. Enter debates – an instructional strategy that dates back to the 5th century. Debates provide an opportunity for students to thoroughly research and logically present a topic.  Moreover, debates foster critical thinking and help students build effective communication skills.¹ While not ideal in all didactic settings, debates are a great way to teach controversial topics that have literature to support different stances.

Icons made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com

Some of the most challenging skills to develop as students make the transition to independent practitioners are clinical decision-making and problem-solving.²  Students are often left to develop these skills after graduation in conjunction with learning the intricacies of a new career. Debates foster the development of both of these skills by encouraging critical thinking to formulate a well-reasoned argument. Successful preparation for the debate involves discovery and assessment of literature – a skill that students will continue to use throughout their careers. Additionally, the exercise helps students to develop effective and persuasive communication techniques that will prove useful during both professional and personal interactions. Traditional lectures, I believe, fall short at fostering the development of these skills.³ 

The implementation of debates as a learning strategy occurs in two distinct steps – the pre-debate and the debate. Instructors should prepare for the debate by framing the chosen topic as a debate – that is to say, making a statement regarding an issue rather than asking students to answer a question. Students are then assigned to two opposing sides – a pro side in favor of the statement and a con side who is opposed to the statement. During the pre-debate stage, students are expected to thoroughly research and prepare a brief (typically 10-12-minute) presentation to support their side of the argument as well as collect ample information to support their stance in the event of a rebuttal from the opposing side. During the debate, the two sides present their argument and a rebuttal followed by a discussion by the entire class, facilitated by the instructor, about both sides of the argument. Some teachers had added another opportunity for learning by having the students prepare test questions tho assesses the key points presented during the debate.^1,2 In addition to being a means to assess student understanding, question writing can stimulate interest in academia as a career path.

In contrast to the assessment techniques used after traditional lectures, which focus on knowledge acquisition, debates can be used to evaluate students on concepts other than knowledge. Typically, the desired learning outcomes are assessed using a rubric that is given to the students before they begin their debate assignment. The assessment of individual students should focus on the persuasiveness of the presentation, use of data to support the argument, composure during the debate as well as eye contact and body language. An assessment of the debate team (or group) could include avoidance of redundancy during the formulation of the argument – an indirect way to assess team communication.¹ The evaluation rubric can be modified based on faculty resources and class size.² 

Studies have shown that students may benefit more from a debate when the approach is coupled with a patient case. Without this application, students struggle to make the connection with clinical practice.¹ Using debates repeatedly during a course can help students hone their skills.  When asked, students admitted that the initial debates took much longer to prepare than those occurring later in the semester.² 

While this instructional method has some clear advantages, debates as a teaching strategy also have limitations. As a student who struggled to speak up and express opinions in front of the class, I can see how this approach is intimidating. However, as healthcare professionals on an interdisciplinary team, it is essential we develop the confidence and poise to speak up and make appropriate recommendations. For students who struggle to speak up, a solution might involve grouping similar students on a team so that there isn’t a strong personality to drown them out. Additionally, debates inherently encourage competition which could lead to a trivialization of issues for the sake of winning.³ The goal is not to “win” the argument but rather to thoroughly research and present the argument with clarity using facts.  Once both sides of the argument are clearly understood, it’s important to emphasize consensus-building and compromise. Lastly, debates can be time-consuming and require a lot of faculty manpower. It may be necessary to split up students into subgroups in a large class to allow direct observation during multiple debate sessions.²

As a student I would have been terrified to take a course that required students to debate topics throughout the semester.  But in retrospect, the opportunity to enhance critical thinking and clinical decision-making using a debate format would have been immensely valuable. The greatest utility of debates, in my opinion, lies in the exploration of topics not easily explained in black and white terms during traditional lectures.

References

1. Charrois TL, Appleton M. Online debates to enhance critical thinking in pharmacotherapy. Am J Pharm Educ. 2013; 77 (8): Article 170.
2. Hawkins WA, Fulford M, Phan S V. Using debates as the primary pedagogy to teach critical care in a PharmD curriculum elective course. Curr Pharm Teach Learn. 2019; 11 (9): 943-948.
3. Darby M. Debate: a teaching-learning strategy for developing competence in communication and critical thinking. J Dent Hyg. 2007; 81 (4).

The Airplane Mode Classroom

by E. Ashton Smith, PharmD, PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Resident, Mississippi State Department of Health 

With today’s technology, people spend hours upon hours consumed with a screen every day. Whether it is scrolling on social media, shopping online, texting with friends, playing games, or watching the next episode of a favorite Netflix series, we are rarely disconnected from the internet. We can enjoy this media from our phones, laptops, tablets, televisions, and now even smartwatches. It can be a pleasant distraction.

Icons made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com

But let’s talk about distractions. Media available on the Internet and through our devices can be a good thing; for example, to pass the time during periods of boredom or to partake in a few enjoyable laughs from a friend’s text message. However, the distraction of constant notifications and the temptation to while away hours of time online can be harmful when there are other things at hand that are currently more important.

Devices in the classroom have become second nature to today’s college students. Laptops, cell phones, and tablets are brought into the classroom each day and can be beneficial for things such as note-taking and other class-related activities. These devices, however, can be a major distraction from learning and participation. In a recent study, the investigators surveyed college students in 26 states in the United States.¹ Their sample included college freshmen all the way up to graduate students. The survey focused on the use of digital devices for non-class purposes in the classroom and the effects that usage may have on learning. Almost 97 percent of the participants admitted to using a digital device on a typical school day in the classroom for non-class related activities. The top two reasons (which were both reported by more than 50% of students) for using a device in the classroom were to stay connected and fight boredom. Although the students were choosing to use those devices during class time, it was not without realizing that it could hinder their learning. Nearly 90% of students admitted that the biggest disadvantage of using devices in the classroom was that it causes them to not pay attention.¹ These results are from a survey conducted in 2016.  It seems likely device use would be even greater now in 2020, as the availability of social and video media online continues to skyrocket.

A study published in 2012 found that students who used their laptops during class scored an average of 11 percentage points lower in the course than the students who did not use their laptops.² That is a whole letter grade! Not only does the laptop user become affected by non-class related internet usage during class, but the surrounding peers are also hindered by this distraction. In an experiment conducted in an undergraduate psychology class at McMaster University, half of the participants were instructed to use paper and pencil only to take notes during a lecture.³ The other participants were asked to use a laptop during the class session and were given tasks to complete on their computers during the lecture that was not related to the instruction. The students were given assigned seats and placed strategically around the room such that some students would have a view of other students using laptops, and others would have a distraction-free view. At the conclusion of the lecture, all participants completed a multiple-choice comprehension test with questions evaluating simple knowledge and application of the information presented during the lecture. Not only did the participants using the laptops perform significantly worse on the comprehension test but also the participants who had a view of a student with a laptop scored significantly lower than participants in the distraction-free zones.³ 

Students know the negative consequence and yet still continue to use their devices during class. So, what is the solution? Some schools have explored the idea of disabling WiFi access in classrooms. Cornell University in Ithaca, New York has implemented the use of software to block access to WiFi while inside classrooms. This doesn’t, however, stop cellular signals, but it likely reduces media usage during class. Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana has restricted WiFi access throughout campus during class time hours. Streaming sites were completely banned in March 2019. Feedback from faculty has been positive, with one professor saying it has helped students who were previously distracted by other students streaming during class. The ban also challenged teachers at the university to develop class activities that engage students since more were actually paying attention in class!⁴ 

Some classrooms have gone “tech-free.” Teachers in schools throughout the country have experimented with policies that prohibit students from bringing laptops, phones, and tablets into the classroom. A professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University tested this policy. She stated that the results were positive and students really loved it. Indeed, students in the tech-free class scored five percent higher on exams than previous semesters.⁵ 

Another way to ease the students into using devices less frequently is to include “tech breaks” during class time. These five-minute breaks are sandwich between lecture segments during which students are allowed to pull out their phones and check social media, text messages, and emails. Students must pay close attention during lecture time to receive this privilege, however. For example, an hour-long class might have 30 minutes of lecturing, then five minutes for a tech break, before the second half of the class begins. This is a good way to not look like the bad guy, eliminating technology completely, and acknowledging how important students’ devices are to them.

Strategies to limit electronic device use in classrooms will continue to rise as the next generation of learners who are even more addicted to their devices enter college. While eliminating WiFI access and banding electronic devices continue to gain traction in schools, more pressure will be placed on teachers to use more engaging instructional strategies during class. Teachers need to explore ways to restructure class time. Ideas include more in-class small group activities, pop quizzes at the end of presentations, and inviting and interacting with guest experts. One of the most useful techniques is to chunk class time into brief activities, each focused on different learning objectives. These brief activities keep the students engaged and involved. Clearly, we need more research about the harms of technology addiction, how it hinders learning, and strategies to address it. 

References

1. McCoy B. Digital distractions in the classroom phase II: student classroom use of digital devices for non-class related purposes. Journal of Media Education [Internet]. 2016; 7: 5-32. [cited 2020 February 10].
2. Duncan D, Hoekstra A, Wilcox B. Digital devices, distraction, and student performance: does in-class cell phone use reduce learning? Astronomy Education Review [Internet] 2012; 11: DOI: 10.3847/AER2012011 [cited 2020 February 10].
3. Sana F, Weston T, Cepeda NJ. Laptop multitasking hinders classroom learning for both users and nearby peers. Computers & Education [Internet]. 2013; 62: 24-31. [cited 2020 February 18].
4. Smith M. Purdue University bans Netflix, other streaming services for students in academic buildings. The Washington Post [Internet]. 2019 March 15. [cited 2020 February 18].
5. Gaither S. Why you should consider a tech-free classroom. Psychology Today [Internet]. 2019 September 23. [cited 2020 February 18].

Teaching Residents to Conduct Residency Research Projects … and Get Published

by Samuel O. Adeosun, PhD, PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Resident, St. Dominics Hospital

One of the requirements for successful completion of pharmacy residency is the completion of a data-driven project. This is a requirement under the American Society for Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) accreditation standards for both PGY1 and PGY2 residencies. While most programs do not require that the project be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal, they usually require that the project be written up in a standard manuscript format and submitted to the program director or committee.¹ However, publishing residency research projects has several advantages. Publishing promotes visibility, for both the resident and the residency program, in the field and may attract collaborators who have similar interests. A published project also promotes a sense of accomplishment. Furthermore, the experience makes the publishing process less intimidating. Moreover, publishing residency research broadens career opportunities (even beyond academia) and early career publication success has been associated with faster career advancement.^2,3 Very importantly, the dissemination of research findings is crucial as findings that are never published are of no value to the research community.  Even negative findings have value and should be disseminated. Unfortunately, despite the requirement and the many potential benefits, the publication rate for resident research projects since 1981 has been low and appears to be trending downward.⁴

There are many reasons why the publication rate is low including time limitations, knowledge gaps among residents and preceptors about conducting research, and lack of mentor support during or after the residency.^5,6 Time is often considered a major problem because a 12-month residency is perceived to be too short to conduct a meaningful research study.^6,7 However, perhaps the most important issue is that no time is specifically allocated for research or instruction about research in most programs. In one survey 80% of residency program directors (RPDs) agreed that research is important to make good patient care decisions but only 44% agreed there should be an equal emphasis on research as on clinical skills.⁵ Although some programs have a designated research month, research must be done longitudinally. Another important limitation is the lack of mentorship and support. Many preceptors are not well trained in research methods or are not motivated (or incentivized) to publish, especially in non-academic settings.^8,9 Thus, for a new pharmacy graduate, conducting a research project is a daunting task because they lack the experience and the support and there is limited time allocated to conducting it. 

A well-designed strategy to address the training needs of residents to conduct research, while also providing sufficient guidance and time, was developed and implemented at the University of Utah in partnership with Intermountain Health.¹⁰ This involved the formation of a resident research committee (RRC) that included two clinical pharmacy specialists, two pharmacy administrators, and one drug information pharmacist. The committee provided oversight and assistance to residents so that they could achieve research goals and complete their projects by the end of the residency year. Before the arrival of the residents in June, the group distributed research overview, guidelines, and deadlines to the incoming residents. Residents were also encouraged to start thinking about their research topic and were scheduled to complete their institutional review board (IRB) training before the residency program started. During the first week of orientation, the RRC gave presentations on formulating research ideas and helped residents refine their ideas based on several factors including data availability, novelty, and alignment with institution initiatives. By the end of August, residents presented their research proposals to the department and data collection commenced after IRB approval. Residents were required to present preliminary results from their projects at a national professional meeting in December. The findings and analyzed results were presented to mentors in April. Preceptors’ feedback were incorporated before residents presented their final project to the department and at the residency conference in May. Finally, a manuscript was submitted to the RRC and residents were encouraged to submit their projects for publication. 

It is worth noting that the core elements of this instructional design is learner support and distributed effort. This is not just a deadline-driven program as support and learner feedback provided at every step. The support included helping residents to navigate the health system in order to get the resources and data they need. Also, the RRC enlisted the help of a statistician during the project development and data analysis stages. This is quite important as most residents (and preceptors) feel statistical analysis is daunting and a major barrier.⁷  Surprisingly, although only 1.5% of RPDs believe their residents have sufficient knowledge regarding statistical analysis, little to no training is provided during pharmacy residency programs and statisticians are not usually enlisted.¹¹ 

The approach developed and implemented by the University of Utah and Intermountain Health proved to be very effective. Within the four years since the program started, all the residents completed their research projects within the allotted 12 months, far more resident research papers were submitted to peer-review journals, and the anticipated publication rate increased to 31%. 

A similar approach adopted by Kaiser Permanente Colorado in partnership with the University of Colorado School of Pharmacy significantly improved residency research publication rates.  The residency research committee included personnel with specialized clinical research training (including PhDs).  The committee provided the residents with refined and ready-made research ideas and residents participated in an educational program with 18-hours of didactic instruction on research design. This approach increased the publication rate to 86.1% (previously 47%) and shortened the time to publication to 23 months (previously 30 months).¹⁵

Another important issue is the quality of the study design. A majority of RPDs and residents perceive this to be major barrier to publication.⁷ To address this problem, alternative approaches to research and scholarly activities have been suggested. These include conducting high-quality retrospective studies or writing comprehensive reviews that have much higher acceptance rates rather than performing time-consuming prospective studies that are unlikely to have generalizable results.¹² Such an approach led to much higher publication rates (72-82%) in some residency programs.^13,14 

Research is critically important to inform evidence-based practice and all pharmacy residents should receive training about how to conduct research. However, most residency training programs ignore best practices in instructional design and fail to teach residents how to conduct research.  Few programs provide instruction and ongoing support. Consequently, most residents never develop the interest and skills needed to conduct scholarly work and successfully publish their project results.⁸  Following an instructional design process based on clearly stated program goals and objectives, learner needs assessments, well-developed instructional materials, and ongoing learner feedback and support can significantly increase project completion and publication rates.

REFERENCES

1. Accreditation Standards for PGY1 Pharmacy Residencies - ASHP. https://www.ashp.org/Professional-Development/Residency-Information/Residency-Program-Directors/Residency-Accreditation/Accreditation-Standards-for-PGY1-Pharmacy-Residencies. Accessed February 8, 2020.

2. Vouri SM, Stranges PM, Burke JM, Micek S, Pitlick MK, Wenger P. The Importance of Research during Pharmacy Residency Training. Curr Pharm Teach Learn. 2015;7(6):892-898. doi:10.1016/j.cptl.2015.08.018.

3. Stranges PM, Vouri SM. Impact of resident research publication on early-career publication success. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2016;73(12):895-900. doi:10.2146/ajhp150567.

4. McKelvey RP, Hatton RC, Kimberlin CA. Pharmacy resident project publication rates and study designs from 1981, 1991, and 2001. Am J Heal Pharm. 2010;67(10):830-836. doi:10.2146/ajhp090090.

5. Weathers T, Ercek K, Unni EJ. PGY1 resident research projects: Publication rates, project completion policies, perceived values, and barriers. Curr Pharm Teach Learn. 2019;11(6):547-556. doi:10.1016/J.CPTL.2019.02.017.

6. Bookstaver PB, Felder TM, Quidley AM, Ragucci K, Nappi J, Draper HM. Pharmacy residents’ barriers to scholarly pursuits. Curr Pharm Teach Learn. 2015;7(1):40-46. doi:10.1016/J.CPTL.2014.09.003.

7. Irwin AN, Olson KL, Joline BR, Witt DM, Patel RJ. Challenges to publishing pharmacy resident research projects from the perspectives of residency program directors and residents. Pharm Pract (Granada). 2013;11(3):166-172. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24223082. Accessed August 31, 2019.

8. Ellis JJ, McCreadie SR, McGregory M, Streetman DS. Effect of pharmacy practice residency training on residents’ knowledge of and interest in clinical research. Am J Heal Pharm. 2007;64(19):2055-2063. doi:10.2146/ajhp070063.

9. Stranges PM, Vouri SM. Impact of co-investigators on pharmacy resident research publication. Pharm Pract (Granada). 2017;15(2):928. doi:10.18549/PharmPract.2017.02.928.

10. Dick TB, Moorman KL, MacDonald EA, Raines AA, Cox KDM. Defining and implementing a model for pharmacy resident research projects. Pharm Pract (Granada). 2015;13(3):562. doi:10.18549/PharmPract.2015.03.562.

11. Newsome C, Ryan K, Bakhireva L, Sarangarm P. Breadth of Statistical Training Among Pharmacy Residency Programs Across the United States. Hosp Pharm. 2018;53(2):101-106. doi:10.1177/0018578717746416.

12. Barletta JF. Conducting a successful residency research project. Am J Pharm Educ. 2008;72(4):92. doi:10.5688/aj720492.

13. Cabanas G, Bridgeman MB, Hermes-DeSantis ER. Publish or perish: Success with publication in pharmacy residency training. Curr Pharm Teach Learn. 2018;10(12):1647-1651. doi:10.1016/J.CPTL.2018.08.017.

14. Hasegawa GR. Publication of residency projects: Another perspective. Am J Heal Pharm. 2012;69(1):77-78. doi:10.2146/ajhp110525.

15. Olson KL, Irwin AN, Billups SJ, Delate T, Johnson SG, Kurz D, Witt DM. Impact of a clinical pharmacy research team on pharmacy resident research. Am J Heal Pharm. 2015;72(4):309-316. doi:10.2146/ajhp140214.

Choosing Wisely: Face-to-Face and Web-Based Instructional Methods for Continuing Education

by Megan Davis, Pharm.D., PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Resident, Magnolia Regional Health Center

Continuing education programs play an important role in a pharmacist’s development. Healthcare practitioners should be self-directed learners and continuing education (CE) provides them with a way to keep their knowledge and skills current. Moreover, CE is required by law to order to maintain professional licensure. CE programs are offered through a variety of methods. Two of the most common are face-to-face and web-based methods. Web-based instruction uses the Internet as the primary method of information delivery.¹ Many terms are used interchangeably to describe web-based learning. These include online learning, computer-assisted learning, and e-learning. For the purpose of this essay, web-based learning is defined as learning that does not take place in a live environment, that is, the instruction and learning are happening at different times (asynchronous delivery). Face-to-face learning, on the other hand, is live interaction that occurs in-person between a learner and a teacher — that is, the instruction and learning are occurring at the same time and in the same place. The problem with these methods, however, is that neither is very effective in terms of behavior change.²

The effectiveness of continuing education is typically assessed in terms of learner reactions and satisfaction, sometimes by testing for knowledge changes, but rarely are patient outcomes or changes in practice measured. For example, knowledge can be measured via pre-test and post-test scores. But a change in knowledge may not lead to practice change and improved patient outcomes. None-the-less, while there is some debate about how effective CE is, healthcare practitioners should understand the advantages and disadvantages of the face-to-face and web-based methods.²

Potential Advantages and Limitations of Face-to-Face Instruction

Face-to-face learners have the opportunity to perform and practice techniques while receiving feedback and guidance from the instructor. In today’s world, I realize the popularity of platforms such as YouTube, where the audience is able to learn how to do just about any task by watching tutorial videos. However, I argue that this web-based instruction is not as effective as learning how to perform the activity in-person with feedback from an instructor. Face-to-face instruction can provide the learner with real-time, on-the-spot feedback, whereas non-live web-based instruction does not.

When learners and instructors meet face-to-face, it’s an opportunity network and connect with others in your profession. This initial forming of relationships is easier in a face-to-face environment where one is able to connect with others between sessions, during breaks, or at dinner. Pharmacy, like nursing and medicine, is a small world and connecting and building relationships is best accomplished through face-to-face interactions and continuing education that takes place at local, regional, and national meetings.³ In my personal experience, I have made countless lasting relationships by attending face-to-face continuing education programs. Social media platforms, which are web-based, do allow for continued connection once the face-to-face interaction has occurred, but I do not believe that it can replace the initial contact, conversations, and networking that face-to-face allows.

However, face-to-face instruction typically does not take into account the individual’s learning preferences. As we know, learning is not a one size fits all format. In web-based instruction, the learner can seek out different instructional methods (readings, videos, podcasts) — one’s that are most conducive to their learning style. In face-to-face instruction, the learner can’t select the instructional method — the instructor chooses. 

Also, live instruction generally does not evaluate learning using a valid assessment at the conclusion of the education. Credit is awarded based on attendance. By not assessing improvements in knowledge or skill, it difficult to assess whether any learning has occurred. Some live programs incorporate audience response (aka clicker-type) questions throughout the program, but answering these questions correctly is not a requirement for credit.

Lastly, the face-to-face methods can be inconvenient and costly, especially when travel is involved. This is important for busy professionals who may not have the time to seek out and attend live programs.³

Potential Advantages and Limitations of Web-based Instruction:

Web-based instruction provides a way for learners to complete CE programs on their own time and any location with Internet access (which is practically everywhere nowadays). With 24-hour, flexible access, web-based instruction is both convenient and accessible. It also allows for a greater variety of topics from which to select. Learners have the ability to seek out programs that align with their professional interests. These programs can be accessed through numerous professional organizations, Universities, and medical education companies.  Lastly, most web-based programs test the learner’s understanding of the material at completion of the course and often include critical thinking and problem-solving exercise to determine if the learner retained the information presented.³

Unfortunately, technical problems are inevitable with both web-based and face-to-face instruction. When technical problems are encountered, learning is hindered and learner satisfaction declines.⁴ Technical problems are more difficult to overcome with web-based instruction due to the dependence on technology to deliver the instruction. Technical issues are a bit easier to address during face-to-face programs because the instructor is still able to communicate with the audience and can use alternative methods, like providing paper handouts, if the instructor has planned ahead.⁴

Comparing the changes in pre-test and post-test scores, one study found that the face-to-face and web-based methods were equally effective with regard to the knowledge gained after the topic was presented.³ This is not surprising as both delivery methods seem to achieve similar knowledge gains in aggregate across many studies. That is, pre-test and post-test scores are significantly better after the instruction is completed. However, what studies have not yet demonstrated is the effectiveness of instruction in terms of practice change. This means that it is still unknown if CE leads to behavior change or improves patient outcomes regardless of the instructional method used.²

With the Internet playing a vital role in our lives now, it is safe to say that web-based instruction is here to stay.⁴ By exploring the advantages and limitations to both face-to-face and web-based methods, we are better able to choose the method that is most effective for what we, as individual learners and educators, are trying to accomplish. In many states, regulatory boards require that a portion of continuing education be completed via live face-to-face instruction.³ I believe when we combine the two methods and are cognizant of the advantages and limitations of each, we are more likely to achieve our continuing education goals.

References:

1. Cook, D. Web-based learning: pros, cons and controversies. Clin Med 2007; 7:37-42.
2. Rouleau G, et al. Effects of E-learning in a Continuing Education Context on Nursing Care: Systematic Review of Systematic Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed-Studies Reviews. J Med Internet Res 2019; 21(10):e15118. 
3. Brown, L. Continuing Education Showdown: Online Learning vs. In-Person Seminars. Acupuncture Today 2013; 14(12).
4. Khatony, A. et al. The effectiveness of web-based and face-to-face continuing education methods on nurses’ knowledge about AIDS: a comparative study. BMC Medical Education 2009; 9:41.