“My method is based on acquiring heuristic knowledge from experts in the field and transferring this information to a computer system”, states Byeong. “We show medical cases, symptoms and test results to perceived experts asking for their opinion or diagnosis”. This data is retained by the system with the student being led, by a series of interrogation techniques, augmented by perhaps additional requested information, to form a clinical assessment and suggested treatment, before comparing their findings with that of the expert.

In the face of increasingly limited teaching resources within Australian medical schools, Byeong sees his system as a tool to provide valuable diagnostic experience to fledgling physicians. “The more students can practice, the more they learn. Lecturers and clinical instructors can program the system to teach students without them [lecturers and clinical instructors] being present”, he declares. “The majority of self-learning tools are based on content or fixed scenarios – they are not problem based as with this approach”, he adds. Another benefit, according to Byeong, is that the introduction of his procedure, based on expert knowledge, will enable the Head of School to monitor the teaching standards of his/her staff helping to ensure a “consistency of teaching” across a range of options.

Byeong has already devised an instruction system based on sapiental knowledge which is installed at the US$2.7 billion Dangjin Coal-Fired Power Plant, located south of Seoul.