Sharing digital teaching resources: breaking down barriers by addressing the concerns of faculty members.

Full Abstract

PURPOSE:
Regional and institutional databases have been created to improve access to educational resources and to avert unnecessary duplication. The growth and success of these databases depend upon the willingness of faculty members to contribute their materials. This qualitative study seeks to identify the barriers that block the free exchange of educational multimedia and the incentives that could be created to overcome educators' concerns.

METHOD:
In 2001, 34 faculty members from 13 U.S. medical schools each participated in one of five focus groups. They responded to three hypothetical scenarios depicting opportunities for sharing educational resources. Participants' responses were categorized hierarchically and sent back to them for feedback.

RESULTS:
Participants strongly supported multimedia databases, particularly those that serve a national audience. Obstacles for contributing materials included the lack of institutional recognition for educational innovation, confusing intellectual property policies, the hassle involved in sharing materials, and the perceived commercial potential of the materials. Peer review of educational materials was seen as an important incentive.

CONCLUSIONS:
Medical schools could benefit from the free exchange of high-quality educational multimedia but need to address the concerns of faculty by clarifying institutional copyright rules, streamlining the donation process, and providing assistance with cataloging assets. Removing departmental pressures to commercialize materials and recognizing peer-reviewed donations as academic achievement could foster a culture of sharing.

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Author information

Author/s: Uijtdehaage, Sebastian H J (SH); Contini, Janice (J); Candler, Chris S (CS); Dennis, Sharon E (SE);

Affiliation: David Geffen School of Medicine, Center for Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, 90095, USA. bas(-atsign-)mednet.ucla.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges (Acad Med), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-Mar; vol 78 (issue 3) : pp 286-94

Dates: Created 2003/03/13; Completed 2003/04/09; Revised 2007/11/15;

PMID: 12634210, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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