By Oksana Zayachkivska, MD, PhD, DSc, Professor of the School of Medicine
Innovative active learning methodologies have become increasingly crucial in higher medical education. They help with efficiency in learning, enhancing comprehension, and retention.
Problem-Based Learning (PBL) programs that incorporate real-world clinical scenarios have demonstrated benefits in the last 50 years. The program of the School of Medicine (SOM) has developed 110 PBL cases based on standard clinical scenarios published recently in premier medical journals, including Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), Lancet, Science, as well as based on educational reviews and interesting casuistical clinical case studies from the clinical practice of Dean, Prof. Sandor Szabo and other members of the faculty of the SOM.
These cases have been strategically mapped to foundational courses, creating a comprehensive framework that bridges theoretical knowledge with practical application. Recently, the faculty of SOM began collaborating with Lt Sensors Technology company at ADInstruments, a strategic partner with the American Physiological Society. Its products are simple, flexible tools to help scientists and educators record and analyze data quickly and efficiently. Among them are digital simulation products. They are designed to enhance student engagement and learn fundamental medical sciences. On September 12, 2025, the Faculty of the SOM held a productive meeting with representatives of Lt Sensors about the educational advantages of digital labs in physiology and pharmacology for future medical students. Lt LabStation is a lab-based learning platform composed of 150 lab lessons, software, and hardware. Based on sensory learning, students can practice recording and analyzing physiological signals in real time, enhancing comprehension through immediate feedback from the real-time data collection and analysis of EEG, ECG, EMG, and many other real biological samples via USB access. Digital format allows students to repeat practice and the analysis of different cases prepared by instructors, too. These innovations must be implemented as supplements to PBL cases. However, traditional hands-on laboratory experiences for microbiology and physiology courses are still important for practical skills development and better understanding and adaptation of real-world scenarios.
The development of a hybrid program which is based on digital simulation and real-world application is the best way to implement an active learning approach for learning future medical professionals.
References:
Chang YI, Kovalchuk I, Savytska M, Zayachkivska O. Building active learning in medical education: how to bridge vision with real practice? Proc Shevchenko Sci Soc Med Sci. 2024Dec.27;76(2).
Neyem A, Cadile M, Burgos‐Martínez SA, Farfán Cabello E, Inzunza O, Alvarado MS, Tubbs RS, Ottone NE. Enhancing medical anatomy education with the integration of virtual reality into traditional lab settings. Clinical Anatomy. 2025 Apr;38(3):249-68.
Daum N, Schwanemann J, Blaivas M, Prats MI, Hari R, Hoffmann B, Jenssen C, Krutz A, Lucius C, Neubauer R, Recker F. Teaching methods, facilities, and institutions in student ultrasound education (SUSE): e-learning, simulation, and ultrasound skills labs. Journal of Ultrasonography. 2025 Apr;25(101):1-8.
Pictures:
Lt LabStation is a lab-based learning platform that is composed of 150 lab lessons, software, and hardware.
Curriculum Committee meeting at School of Medicine hosted representatives from Lt Sensors Technology company at ADInstruments.