Creating interactive learning objects with PowerPoint: Primer for lecture on the autonomic nervous system

Background: In medical curricula, difficult topics are often presented to students with varied backgrounds and therefore at different levels of preparation to learn and assimilate the information. Aim: A method is described to create an interactive primer for the study of a basic neuroscience topic to improve student preparation for and understanding of the autonomic nervous system. Methods: Action buttons or links within a PowerPoint show were used to create an interactive show. Branch points were imposed, as students answered questions correctly or incorrectly. In this way, the learning path was individualized depending on the level of comprehension. Results: Response to the interactive learning objects has been favorably received by the students with very favorable scores on the end-of-course evaluation. Preliminary analysis of the benefit of the interactive primer on summative examination suggests modest improvement on more difficult questions. Conclusions: Use of the primer on the autonomic nervous system is discussed in the context of reports on the effectiveness of other blended learning and interactive learning experiences. The interactive tool described requires little facility with or support for web-based programming by faculty, and can be streamlined by creation of a PowerPoint template with pre-set interaction buttons.