A microcomputer application curriculum for emergency medicine residents using computer-assisted instruction

A microcomputer application curriculum using computer-assisted instruction was developed for emergency medicine residents. Other than introductory comments, the course was composed entirely of disk-based tutorials. No faculty time was necessary. Subjects covered included introduction to microcomputers, the disk operating system; word processing, data bases, and spread sheets. The entire course, including the tutorial floppy disks, was contained in one loose-leaf notebook. Residents who took the course were surveyed. The course took an average of three to six hours to complete. All found the course to be helpful, with word processing being the most useful module. The majority of residents thought that the course was so valuable that it should be given earlier in the residency. Thus, we have moved the course to the first postgraduate year, and the data base and spread-sheet modules have been made optional. The course is easily assembled, requires minimal faculty time, and can be modified to accommodate different hardware and software.