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General

Computer-based instruction and assessment programs for curriculum support are now fully integrated within one program, WebWare-AnyWare.  The WebWare program is an information Internet browser especially designed for education.  WebWare can deliver exams (practice and real), virtual patient simulations, instructional programs such as lectures and tutorials, and electronic surveys.  It is web ready, anywhere, anytime.  

Software Technical News  (Return to Top)

Database connectivity via Responder is continuously under development to increase flexibility and speed.  Responder is used extensively with ClinicSoft in order to help deliver high fidelity natural language processing and text to text interactivity. 

Martin Sanchez, chief architect and programmer of Responder, reports the latest Responder engine's speed has increased 30% and reduced memory consumption by 60%!  This means better response time and increased fidelity while interviewing a patient in ClinicSoft.

TestWare-AnyWare News  (Return to Top)

TestWare is now web ready!  TestWare is now called TestWare-AnyWare, and for a good reason.  TestWare-AnyWare is web-ready to deliver any exam over the Web, anywhere, anytime.

TestWare-AnyWare is designed for use with automated computer-based testing.  The administrator or facilitator supplies the database of questions and TestWare-AnyWare does the rest.  TestWare-AnyWare can use multimedia (sounds, graphics, movies, etc.) within question screens to enhance realism for the participant.  Automated scoring and reporting is available.  Exam participants have complete control for browsing through an exam just like on a paper and pencil test.  Exam scrambling and customization is also included.  TestWare-AnyWare works on a LAN or as a stand-alone system.

ClinicSoft News  (Return to Top)

ClinicSoft is now web ready!  Many cases can be run over the Internet with the WebWare Internet Browser.  Call us for case availability and case codes.

The University of Iowa College of Medicine has begun using ClinicSoft as a formal assessment tool in the Internal Medicine Clerkship.  ClinicSoft assessment cases are proving to evaluate a students diagnostic reasoning ability and content knowledge.  Students currently take a pattern recognition exam along with two ClinicSoft cases at the end of their 12 week clerkship.

New ClinicSoft Cases  (Return to Top)

New cases for ClinicSoft are appearing rapidly on a monthly basis.  Cases are accessible on the Internet or CD-ROM (nominal charge).

Cases are co-developed by the author (typically and M.D.) and a software designer.  The University of Iowa is currently collaborating with many of medical colleges in order to develop and share case.

Pulmonary: Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease
An elderly male presents to your office complaining of shortness of breath.  User mode: Performance-based assessment (can be converted to instructional mode).  Author: Dr. Michael Peterson; Developer: Scott Elliott, University of Iowa, College of Medicine.

Honors  (Return to Top)

Staff Excellence Award

Scott Elliott was one of 6 University of Iowa staff honored for staff excellence.  He received The University of Iowa Staff Excellence Award for the development of computer software packages that help medical students succeed. 

One program, ClinicSoft, simulates physician-patient encounters allowing  students to develop clinical skills by interacting with virtual patients. All second-year medical students use the ClinicSoft package in order to complete a live-simulated patient experience. 

Scott has also developed a program called TestWare-AnyWare, a new package that enables medical students to use the internet to access real and practice tests.  TestWare-AnyWare is also used extensively in the 3rd year clinical clerkships and in first and second years courses.  

 

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