A collaborative environment for semi-structured medical problem based learning

Problem Based Learning (PBL) and Cooperative Learning are both supported in a rich environment for active group learning. Groups of students are given a medical exploration environment to support learning by discovery and exploration. The environment implements a current approach to problem based learning (PBL) and extends it to support the joint reasoning and cooperation aspects in medical teams. An information system approach for a complete cooperative PBL environment, called Computer Assisted Learning and Exploration (CALE), is based upon these concepts. CALE acts as a multi-media repository for case materials and manages the structured group access to those documents and user generated information. CALE supports collaborative learning, exploration of facilitator editable medical simulated patient cases, and access to reference materials. With the case presentation shell being the same for all cases, new cases can easily be added.