Effects of a CD ROM MRI teaching and learning resource on student exam performance

The teaching of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to students undertaking a Bachelors degree in medical imaging (radiography) has been difficult because of limited access to images of clinical quality. Student comprehension of MR contrasts of T1, T2 and proton density and of MR image quality has been restricted as a result of the use of 'standard' classroom teaching technique. A CD-ROM based computer program, MRI Concepts, has been developed as a resource to enable student access to clinical quality MR images in the teaching of MRI principles. Students can access these images via a standard PC. Subjective and objective measurements can be made on the images to assess MR image contrast and quality changes resulting from the use of different MRI parameters. Three cohorts of students have been assessed on their understanding and comprehension in these areas. Two of the cohorts had access to MRI Concepts. These students' results were compared to those of students who undertook similar classroom teaching of MRI prior to the development of MRI Concepts. Statistically there has been an improvement in the results of the students who used MRI Concepts in conjunction with tutorial exercises, compared to the students who did not have access to MRI Concepts. This improvement in learning outcomes is attributed to the students undertaking self-directed learning by accessing the learning resources in their own time and being able to better to visualise clinical quality MR images.