Beginning with its 2002 strategic plan Translating Discoveries, Stanford University School of Medicine initiated a series of profound changes to its approach to medical education that set it apart from other schools of medicine and made it a model of innovation. 

Envisioned as the new heart of the School of Medicine—and key to our continued leadership in the training of physicians and scientists—The Li Ka Shing Center for Learning and Knowledge will be one of the most advanced centers for medical education in the world. Within its walls, and with the leading-edge tools they house, we will develop a variety of programs that take advantage of revolutionary changes in how information is developed, shared, and applied. 

Multiple gunshot wounds. Mass casualties. A biohazard incident. It may sound like a typical episode of ER, but a virtual rendering of such serious situations could provide valuable training for future medical professionals. Stanford School of Medicine’s Immersive Learning Center will allow medical students to integrate their classroom understanding in parallel with simulation-based practice. By creating a virtual microcosm of a hospital, for example, students can seamlessly maneuver through a variety of medical settings, without worrying about making mistakes.

“The goal is to have experiential learning be completely imbedded in the experience, starting at the beginning of a student’s education and maintained through their careers,” said David Gaba, professor of anesthesia and associate dean for immersive and simulation-based learning.

Emphasizing technique over technology, the center will provide students with a range of simulations, from a single patient setting to a mass casualty. A “Wet/dry” classroom gives students an opportunity to practice suturing and giving injections. Mannequins serve as rehearsal for applying splints or casts.  Actors help students prepare for patient care. A role-playing virtual world would allow students to represent nurses or doctors in a trauma ward and respond to a patient’s changing condition.

Several simulation facilities are already in use at Stanford, associated with each of our teaching hospitals and organizationally linked under the umbrella of the Center for Immersive and Simulation-based Learning (CISL). The Li Ka Shing Center for Learning and Knowledge will draw together and build upon these facilities in the new flagship Immersive Learning Center, coupling simulations, actor patients in clinics, and virtual reality in a single, flexible space.

To explore further aspects of the Center for Immersive and Simulation-based Learning (CISL), visit http://cisl.stanford.edu

As student curriculums continue to evolve, so should the environments that students use to absorb and develop their knowledge. Stanford School of Medicine's educational environments provide students with an array of teaching situations, from traditional lecture halls to interactive studios and laboratories. With a shrinking half-life for biomedical science and education, it is imperative to create environments that facilitate student learning—and relearning—of concepts and information.

"This building embraces flexibility and will enable our faculty to be innovative in their teaching methods and will support the curriculum as it evolves,” said Jenn Stringer, associate director of educational technology.  “Specially designed spaces together with the latest technologies will encourage students to take a more active role in their learning."

In the new Learning and Knowledge Center, classrooms will be as diverse as the students, staying flexible to suit individual and group needs. An interactive lecture space will couple presentations with collaborative work among students. Along with formal course settings, breakout rooms will support the trend toward small group learning. Advanced laboratories will provide real and simulated equipment, enabling students to try techniques in a controlled environment.

“There is a better way to teach, and the tools are becoming available,” said Parvati Dev, PhD, lab director of medical media and information technologies. “The Li Ka Shing Center for Learning and Knowledge is where you'll be able to do it.”

The diverse and mutable nature of these classroom environments will foster tools for conceptual, interactive, and experience-based learning.

For a glimpse into work in the Learning Environments arena, visit http://lane.stanford.edu/services/about/edtech/index.html.

In our digital era, waiting for information is as outdated as poring over dusty texts. Placing information at a user’s fingertips, smart libraries will get the right knowledge to the right person, at the right time. Learning and library systems merge into one, optimizing the educational experience. With more than 90 percent of its contents available digitally, Stanford School of Medicine’s Lane Knowledge Management Center will deliver services at the point of need.

Initially housed in both the new Learning and Knowledge Center and the Lane building, this virtual and physical hub will bring information on demand to students, researchers, and doctors on campus or in the community. With the completion of the second phase of the Li Ka Shing Center for Learning and Knowledge, Li Ka Shing Center for Learning and Knowledge2, Lane Library & Knowledge Management Center will be completely moved to the Li Ka Shing Center for Learning and Knowledge complex. Such a knowledge hub provides flexible interfaces for clinicians, researchers, and students to accelerate learning, streamline the decision-making process, and create a sense of community.

Helping the Stanford community sift through a deluge of information, the new library will contain technology-enhanced study settings, distributed learning commons, and specialized resource training. By allowing users to access, manipulate, and analyze knowledge, the space will seamlessly integrate service and education.

To learn more about the library of the future, visit http://lane.stanford.edu/.

Stanford School of Medicine's new comprehensive Conference Center brings users of the new Learning and Knowledge Center into a space to gather and engage in dialogue. This interdisciplinary forum draws students and staff together with the community, providing technology-driven communication between groups large or small.

An auditorium-style theater and ballroom is at the core of the Conference Center, providing lecture-style seating for 350 guests and seated dining for 250 guests.  The flexibility of this space also allows for varying levels of interactions and choices about types of seating including moveable seating on the flat floor and/or retractable tiered theater seating. While the theater can be segmented into three meeting rooms, each accommodating 100 people, breakout spaces allow for informal discussions for 15-30 people. All will be equipped with audio and videoconferencing devices, several high-resolution screens and monitors, and wireless capabilities.

This space will also contain catering areas and a business center, along with a formal boardroom. A dynamic exhibit will display the technologies used in education, research, and patient care. Celebrating the rich history of the School of Medicine while paving a pathway for future successes, the Conference Center gives the community a view into the richness of experience at Stanford.

For medical and graduate students, the frenetic pace of learning extends through the day into night. To ensure a well-rounded lifestyle, Stanford School of Medicine’s Student Life will offer areas that blend relaxation and rejuvenation into the learning experience. A variety of study, reflection, and social spaces will emphasize balance—a vital aspect of a student’s well-being.

In the new Learning and Knowledge Center, students will find places to study, work, and connect with their peers, or find a quiet moment alone to reflect. A lounge and entertainment area, and a rooftop terrace create a stress-free environment to complement the study spaces. Fitness facilities let students squeeze in a workout between classes or laboratories, while a project rehearsal area will provide students with a state of the art space to practice key presentations. A café on the first floor will serve meals made to order during the day, drinks and pre-prepared food in the evenings, and kitchen amenities for a quick bite off-hours.

With limited time at their disposal, students need an easily accessible retreat that nurtures a sense of community. This blended space puts work and play under one roof—a home away from home.  To learn more about student life in the School of Medicine please visit, http://med.stanford.edu/student_life/.