A CONSUMER-ORIENTED MODEL FOR EVALUATING COMPUTER-ASSISTED INSTRUCTIONAL-MATERIALS FOR MEDICAL-EDUCATION

Computer-assisted instruction (CAI) can enhance medical education, but course directors and curriculum designers need thorough, credible eva luative data to make sound decisions about procuring and implementing CAI programs. There has been extensive research on the merits of CAI i n general (although much of it is flawed by methodologic shortcomings) , but sufficient evaluative data on specific programs are rarely avail able. The author proposes that a consumer-oriented model would be usef ul for evaluating CAI programs, and he discusses one published, consum er-oriented evaluation of a multimedia CAI program for ophthalmology s tudents. The author contends that if CAI programs were routinely evalu ated using the consumer-oriented model, and if CAI program developers used this model to evaluate their programs during the developmental ph ase, medical educators would be better able to choose and implement th e programs that would best serve their needs.