Summary:
This article demonstrates how generative AI tools can address educational overload in health professions, including ophthalmology, where medical knowledge often exceeds learners' cognitive limits. By leveraging dual coding and cognitive load theories, platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and NotebookLM enable the creation of multimodal content such as audio summaries and mind maps. This approach enhances comprehension, retention, and learning efficiency** by engaging both verbal and visual channels, reducing cognitive load, and transforming text-heavy instruction into more engaging learning experiences for medical students.
Abstract:
Health professions education faces a critical challenge: the volume and complexity of medical knowledge has outpaced the cognitive limits of learners. Cognitive load theory indicates that traditional text-heavy instruction overloads the working memory. Current educational materials fail to leverage the dual coding theory which proposes that content should be presented through both verbal and visual channels.
Generative AI tools enable the creation of multimodal educational content. Platforms such as ChatGPT, Gemini, NotebookLM, and HeyGen enable the creation of multimodal educational content - audio summaries, interactive mind maps, infographics, narrated videos, and voice-based interactions - designed to improve information processing in the working memory. Multimodal AI-generated content potentially enhances comprehension, retention and learning efficiency, and provides scalable, easily updated resources. These tools align with Generation Z learning preferences and can be integrated into existing curricula to transform text heavy content into multimodal engaging content. These tools can be used by faculty and learners,with minimal technical expertise or time investment.
To ensure success, institutions must provide faculty and learners training, with consistent access, and evaluate outcomes. Pilot programs with iterative feedback can guide thoughtful implementation. By aligning educational strategies with cognitive science principles, generative AI can play a transformative role in addressing educational overload and creating more effective, engaging learning environments.