Peer teaching and computer-assisted learning: An effective combination forsurgical skill training?

Background. The surgical literature suggests that collaborative learning us ing peers may be a valid way to teach surgical skills and there is a growin g interest in the use of computer-assisted learning for this purpose. Combi ning this evolving technology with this type of teaching would theoreticall y offer a number of advantages including a reduction in the amount of facul ty time devoted to this task, In this study, we evaluate the efficacy of a type of collaborative learning in a computer-assisted learning environment. Materials and methods. We designed a prospective, randomized study comparin g novice learners who were allowed to work in pairs with those who worked i ndependently in a specially equipped computer-assisted learning classroom. Both pretest and posttest assessments were performed by videotaping this sk ill. Three experts then evaluated the videotapes, in a blinded fashion, Thr ee different outcomes were assessed. Results, Seventy-seven subjects were enrolled in and completed the study. C omparison of the outcome measures demonstrated no between group difference in the average performance scores or posttest times, The proportion of subj ects who correctly tied a square knot was significantly lower in the comput er-assisted peer teaching group when compared with the computer-assisted le arning alone group (P = 0.04), Conclusions. Collaborative learning in a computer-assisted learning environ ment is not an effective combination for teaching surgical skills to novice s. (C) 2000 Academic Press.