Problem Based Learning Discussion - PBLD

An excellent venue. At the annual meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists(ASA) prepare 127 "situations" and invite up to 8 Anesthesiologists to discuss with a moderator how the problem is to be managed. The issues and challenges of each problem are sent via surface mail 8 weeks in advance for the participants to research, consider, and prepare for a lively discussion.

Approach

Given that any one individual could not attend all sessions create a post session electronic "take away" for the participants. Utilize the Acrobat® format to provide a CD-ROM with all of the cases in a searchable archive that can be played back on any computer system or available for download from the ASA site based on case topic or author.

The ASA engaged Marathon Multimedia of Minnesota to create a remote login site for the discussion leaders to prepare a one to seven page problem summary for distribution in advance of the discussion. These files were formatted and prepared in pdf format for Mizen & Associates, Inc. to create a menu and interface that provides access to cases based on medical situation, author, or session title.

Lessons Learned

The pdf format is the best cross platform environment to present visually rich information in electronic form. In addition, the pdf files were formatted to be compatible with Lake County Press' Docutech system for those individuals wishing to have a printed version of the 700+page collection. This project is based on electronic files and can be "printed on demand" for 1 to 1000 copies as required.