Library instruction for medical students during a curriculum elective

The University of Minnesota Medical School has an innovative curriculum, called Didactic/Selective, which provides third- and fourth-year medical students with multidisciplinary and multispecialty courses. Within this framework, the Bio-Medical Library planned a course to teach the knowledge and skills necessary for library research and information management. It included (1) searching case-related topics in print indexes, (2) formulating and processing MEDLINE searches on BRS Colleague, (3) building a personal file with PC-File or Notebook, and (4) exploring various methods for current awareness. Students' evaluations were positive, with the majority indicating that they found the course interesting and the knowledge gained substantial.     

Application of Airborne Television to Public Education

In an effort to bring the advantages of television teaching to the maximum number of public schools, particularly those in hilly or sparsely settled parts of the country, a project has been launched to provide airborne transmission of six simultaneous school lesson program. Coverage area is increased approximately 20 to 1 by this means compared to the usual ground station coverage. Airborne transmission is the most economical and effective use of the available (UHF) frequency spectrum. Results already established regarding the use of television as a teaching medium are projected via an airplane flying at 23,000 feet altitude over an area covering parts of six Midwestern States. Educational advantages and problems inherent in ground station TV are intensified in this larger coverage area, and planning is governed accordingly. Technical problems include multiplex transmission of six lessons simultaneously, keeping the airplane on station, accommodation of transmitting equipment in the airplane, and determination of bandwidth for optimum picture quality.