Developing an educator network: the effect of a teaching scholars program in the health professions on networking and productivity.

BACKGROUND: Teaching Scholars Programs are designed to enhance productivity and faculty retention. The formation of an increased network may be a facilitative mechanism. PURPOSES: This study determined if participants increased their educational network and if the increase affected productivity. METHODS: Researchers interviewed Teaching Scholars participants for pre- and postparticipation members of their educational network and issues related to network formation and conducted a structured vita analysis. Researchers used social network analysis (SNA) to describe the networks and regression to determine the relationship between network and productivity. RESULTS: Educational networks increased with participation (p <.001) but showed little or no effect on productivity. SNA revealed a decrease of participants with no network, increase in connections among participants, and increase in connections to central services personnel. Researchers identified six themes from the participants' comments. CONCLUSIONS: This relatively modest program demonstrated a small effect on productivity through the increased network.

Organizational models of educational technology in U.S. and Canadian medical schools.

PURPOSE: To examine the organizational structure of educational technology units within U.S. and Canadian medical schools in order to (1) identify organization models that support educational technology, (2) describe key attributes of these models, and (3) discuss the strengths and challenges associated with these models. METHOD: The authors distributed a survey to 88 schools that had previously provided information on their educational technology services and infrastructure. The authors developed the survey through a series of pilots and, then, from the data for each respondent school, created concept maps, which were used to identify organizational models. The authors conducted analyses to determine differences among models. The authors coded the comments about organizational models and identified themes. RESULTS: The authors received adequate data for analysis from 61 schools (69%). Four models for educational technology organizations emerged: (1) centralized units located in the school of medicine, (2) centralized units located at the health science center, (3) centralized units at the comprehensive university, and (4) no centralized unit (Dispersed Model). The majority (75%) of schools relied on some type of centralized organization. Whereas few organization attributes proved to be statistically significant, the centralized models have more resources devoted to educational technology and a closer alignment with the academic mission than the Dispersed Model. CONCLUSIONS: Medical schools primarily use central models. The authors recommend that schools structuring their educational technology resources consider exploration of a central model because of its focused use of resources to improve teaching and learning.

Impact of a teaching scholars program.

BACKGROUND: Researchers employ various approaches to evaluate teaching scholars programs (TSPs). We interviewed secondary beneficiaries of the TSP. METHOD: During an interview, TSP graduates identified individuals and/or groups whom they felt were affected as a result of their TSP participation. At least one individual from each type of these identified beneficiaries was interviewed. Quantitative results were summarized descriptively and qualitative comments coded through a consensus process. RESULTS: Thirty-six (88%) of TSP participants were interviewed. From their responses, 50 beneficiaries were interviewed. Sixty-eight percent of beneficiaries identified that, as a result of TSP, the scholars became better teachers and educational scholars and enhanced educational scholarship, programs, teaching, mentoring, and leadership in departments. Eighty-nine percent identified educational projects emanating from their contact with the scholar. CONCLUSION: Beneficiaries validated that the TSP produced better teachers and scholars. The impact in scholarship validated the importance of completing a project as part of the TSP. TSP also enhanced networking and educational resources for departments.

Educational technology infrastructure and services in North American medical schools.

PURPOSE: To describe the current educational technology infrastructure and services provided by North American allopathic medical schools that are members of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), to present information needed for institutional benchmarking. METHOD: A Web-based survey instrument was developed and administered in the fall of 2004 by the authors, sent to representatives of 137 medical schools and completed by representatives of 88, a response rate of 64%. Schools were given scores for infrastructure and services provided. Data were analyzed with one-way analyses of variance, chi-square, and correlation coefficients. RESULTS: There was no difference in the number of infrastructure features or services offered based on region of the country, public versus private schools, or size of graduating class. Schools implemented 3.0 (SD = 1.5) of 6 infrastructure items and offered 11.6 (SD = 4.1) of 22 services. Over 90% of schools had wireless access (97%), used online course materials for undergraduate medical education (97%), course management system for graduate medical education (95%) and online teaching evaluations (90%). Use of services differed across the undergraduate, graduate, and continuing medical education continuum. Outside of e-portfolios for undergraduates, the least-offered services were for services to graduate and continuing medical education. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this survey provide a benchmark for the level of services and infrastructure currently supporting educational technology by AAMC-member allopathic medical schools.