FOAM [free open access medical education] & How to Use It with Matt Delaney
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In this post we are talking FOAM. For those not in-the-know FOAM stands for Free Open Access Medical Education. It is rumored this term was coined in a pub in Dublin at the ICEM conference. What this term means, really, is quite nebulous. Life in the Fast Lane states it is “a collection of resources, a community, and an ethos.” We sit down with Matt Delaney MD to discuss FOAM, the good, the bad, and the future.
WHAT IS FOAM?
FOAM has evolved to refer to online or asynchronous resources, primarily blogs and podcasts, but has a strong inter-relation with social media. When broken down, social media disseminates FOAM and allows for critique and review of FOAM materials.
Some debate about what constitutes FOAM.
Does it have to be free/open?- Matt argues no, if the cost of access is to cover the creation and maintenance of quality, it still counts as FOAM
Can we keep high quality resources free/open?- Yes, there are many good, free educational resources out there (you’re using one right now). This requires a strong commitment from the creators and a dedication to the FOAM movement.
THE ADVANTAGES OF FOAM
Open and easy to access
Dramatically reduces the knowledge translation time
Several layers of peer review: including pre-release in many sources and detailed post-release editorial oversight
Quality floats to the top
Low barrier of entry for educators
THE DISADVANTAGES OF FOAM
The strengths of FOAM can also be its downfall:
The appearance of quality
The risk of early adoption
Filter failure
Lack of traditional peer review
How can we combat the negative elements of FOAM that our residents are exposed to?
Trust/Use resources that have a good peer review structure and a solid track record
Balance with a traditional approach to educational resources
Have a strategy in place for filter failure
You draw the golden ticket in a magical world and you, you alone, get to dictate the future of FOAM and craft how resident education will be in 15 years. What future do you craft and specifically what role does FOAM play?
No more in-person lectures
No more textbooks
Check out our interview with Matt Delaney MD here:
