Lessons Learned From an Educational Pilot: High-Yield Physics Videos for Radiation Oncology Residents

Abstract

Radiation oncology is uniquely poised to benefit from the development of remote learning tools, given the need for mastery of often challenging basic science topics, as well as the interprogram heterogeneity of resident educational quality. Our team successfully created and disseminated 4 high-yield animated physics educational videos through the collaboration of radiation oncologists, medical physicists, and a graphic design specialist. This is a unique process requiring significant intellectual, monetary, and time capital. In this article, we describe important lessons learned throughout this process, in hopes that others will learn from our experience, applying the following concepts to their own digital content creation. These lessons include (1) playing to your teammates’ strengths and personalizing tasks, rather than equally dividing work; (2) anticipating animations before and during script writing; (3) developing multiple routes of communication and being open to which one works best for your team; and (4) discussing funding up front and collaborating within an affiliated institution or company for graphic design to alleviate the financial stress of such endeavors.