An Interdisciplinary E-learning Program to Enhance Pediatric Oncology Education

TitleAn Interdisciplinary E-learning Program to Enhance Pediatric Oncology Education
Faculty/College/UnitMedicine
StatusCompleted
Duration3 Years
Initiation04/01/2006
Completion09/30/2011
Funding Details
Year 1: Project TitleAn Interactive Multi-media Website for the Instruction of Pediatric Oncology
Year 1: Project YearYear 1
Year 1: Funding Year2006/2007
Year 1: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 1: Principal InvestigatorKaren Goddard
Year 1: Funded Amount11,000
Year 1: Team Members

Karen Goddard, Surgery, Faculty of Medicine
Paris-Ann Gfeller, UBC Resident, Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine

Year 1: Summary

The goal of this project is to develop a series of web-based multimedia learning modules for the interactive instruction of pediatric oncology. Both nationally and internationally, it is well establish that pediatric oncology is a difficult subject are to teach effectively. A lack of exposure to pediatric oncology during residency and medical school is correlated with improper treatment of pediatric tumors. There is a clear need for novel teaching tools in pediatric oncology.

This web-based teaching tool will enhance self-directed learning and support didactic medical teaching. The primary audience will be residents in radiation oncology, pediatric medical oncology and surgical oncology. The basic approach to oncology will serve as a learning resource for residents in other pediatric subspecialties (i.e. pediatric neurology, pediatric neurosurgery etc.) and medical students.

Teaching modules will be systems based, using a common format, reviewing relevant epidemiology, pathology, radiology and treatment for each tumor site. The materials for the web site will be developed by an interdisciplinary team of contributors. A team of radiation oncology residents, pediatric oncology fellows and medical summer students will develop content. Material will be reviewed by pediatric specialists. A web-design company will assist with final production.

Year 2: Project TitleAn Interactive Multi-media Website for the Instruction of Pediatric Oncology
Year 2: Project YearYear 2
Year 2: Funding Year2007/2008
Year 2: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 2: Principal InvestigatorKaren Goddard
Year 2: Funded Amount11,900
Year 2: Team Members

Karen Goddard, Surgery, Faculty of Medicine
Paris-Ann Gfeller-Ingledew, UBC Resident, Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine

Year 2: Summary

The goal of this project is to develop a web-based teaching tool for interactive instruction of pediatric oncology. The primary target audience is medical students and residents. This project has been underway for over 18 months. A significant amount of work has been accomplished. The written content for the brain tumor module has been completed. A board of editors (local, national and international) has edited 50% of the content. This past year the content for sarcomas, kidney tumors and lymphomas modules were completed. Editing, web development and case writing is ongoing. Teaching modules are currently "systems" based. An interdisciplinary team is developing the curriculum. Initial feedback has been enthusiastic, yet there is a need to develop interactive case based materials. The focus of this project in the next 12 months will be to develop the case-based component while completing the editing and web-design.

Year 3: Project YearYear 3
Year 3: Funding Year2010/2011
Year 3: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 3: Principal InvestigatorKaren Goddard
Year 3: Funded Amount21,000
Year 3: Team Members

Karen Goddard, Surgery / Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine
Naomi Evans, Clinical Nurse, Pediatric Neuro-oncology, BC Children's Hospital
Juliette Hukin, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine
Sheila Pritchard, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine
Rod Rassekh, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine

Year 3: Summary

This website has continued to develop as a resource to enhance pediatric oncology education and provide a focus for interdisciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration. We are building a comprehensive e-learning program which integrates information about different tumor sites and related subjects, interactive cases (which link with the subject sections at multiple points) and assessment questionnaires (to assess website content and graphics). More resources are necessary to continue to develop content focusing not only on the treatment of pediatric cancers, but the late effects of therapy. We also need to develop a self assessment component. Content is produced by the collaboration of undergraduates and Health care professionals (HCPs) principally from the BC Cancer Agency and BC Children’s Hospital. We now also collaborate with The Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto) and The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (Ottawa). These centres are members of the Canadian Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorder Council (C17).