Tools and methods for teaching magnetic resonance concepts and techniques

Teaching of MRI methodology can be challenging
for teachers as well as students. To
support student learning, two graphical simulators
for exploration of basic magnetic resonance
principles are here introduced. The first implements
a simple compass needle analogy implemented
for day one of NMR and MRI education.
After a few minutes of use, any user with minimal
experience of magnetism will be able to explain
the basic magnetic resonance principle. A second
piece of software, the Bloch Simulator, aims
much further, as it can be used to demonstrate
and explore a wide range of phenomena including
RF interactions, relaxation, weighting, echoes,
imaging principles and more. Both
simulators run in almost any browser without
installation of software, but are also freely available
for download. Example uses are documented
in a series of short videos available on YouTube.