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Effect of an eLearning Intervention on Undergraduate Health Professional Student's General Histology and Embryology Summative Examination Scores.

ABSTRACT: Sub-Saharan Africa has the worst global shortage of health professionals. The use of eLearning interventions, that lead to increased interactions according to the Interaction Equivalency theorem, is a potential means of addressing this shortage of health professionals. In this audit we set out to determine the effect of an eLearning general histology and general embryology intervention on student's summative examination scores. The audit compared the written and practical summative examination scores of three sets of student examinations one of which had a five-week eLearning intervention. Two of the examinations were for the same students in one year but different courses while the other two were for students doing the same subject but in different years. In each of the above pair of examinations there was one group from the course that had the eLearning intervention. A Bayesian multilevel regression modelling approach was used to analyse the student scores. The course with the online eLearning intervention had significantly better scores (p-value < 0.01), than the course on a different subject offered at the same time to the same students without the intervention and the same course with students from the previous academic year. On controlling for other factors, the eLearning intervention led to higher examination scores though this was not significant. Student's nationality, sponsorship and program significantly affected the examination scores, controlling for other factors. Overall the students in the course with the online eLearning intervention had significantly better examination scores. The student's nationality, sponsorship and program significantly affect their examination scores. Future, larger and or qualitative studies, are needed to further explore the effect of these factors on student's examination scores.

SUBMITTER: Munabi IG

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7357960 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Effect of an eLearning Intervention on Undergraduate Health Professional Student's General Histology and Embryology Summative Examination Scores.

Munabi Ian G IG Mwaka Erisa S ES Kirum Gonzaga G GG Kirwowa Haruna H Gonzaga Mubuuke Aloysius A Kiguli Sarah S Buwembo William W

OAlib 20200618 6

Sub-Saharan Africa has the worst global shortage of health professionals. The use of eLearning interventions, that lead to increased interactions according to the Interaction Equivalency theorem, is a potential means of addressing this shortage of health professionals. In this audit we set out to determine the effect of an eLearning general histology and general embryology intervention on student's summative examination scores. The audit compared the written and practical summative examination s ...[more]

PMID: 32661500

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Project description:BackgroundStudy motivation and knowledge retention benefit from regular student self-assessments. Inclusion of certainty-based learning (CBL) in computer-assisted formative tests may further enhance this by enabling students to identify whether they are uninformed or misinformed regarding the topics tested, which may trigger future study actions including instructor consultation.MethodsUsing a cross-over study design involving two out of thirteen computer-assisted formative assessments (CAFAs) of a first-year cell biology course, we compared student-instructor interactions, student learning experiences and final exam scores between two (bio)medical science student cohorts who worked with different CBL-containing CAFAs.ResultsA total of 389 students participated in the study. After completion 159 (41%) filled in a questionnaire on their experience with CBL during supervised CAFAs. In the control group the median duration of student-instructor interactions was 90 s (range 60-140 s), and this increased with 20 s to 110 s (range 60-150 s) in the group working with a CBL-based CAFA. The number of interactions was similar in both groups (0.22 per student per hour, regardless of CBL inclusion). Forty percent of the students expected that CBL would positively influence their study behavior, and 23% also anticipated a positive effect on examination scores. Student examination scores, however, were not affected by CBL. Almost half of the students (43%) were in favor of CBL inclusion in future computer-assisted learning modules, whereas 33% did not see merit in including CBL in CAFAs.ConclusionsIncorporation of CBL in a single formative assessment led to a slight increase in student-instructor interaction times, but had effect neither on the number of student-instructor interactions nor on exam scores. CBL inclusion positively influenced student's appreciation of the coursework, presumably by helping students to evaluate their mastery level and identify misconceptions. A more extensive enrollment of CBL beyond an individual formative assessment, throughout a course or a curriculum, may possibly reveal positive effects on study efficacy.

Project description:BackgroundThe continuous changes in the medical education to prepare medical doctors for the future requires updates in medical curriculum. However, the perspectives of the medical students are not frequently considered during the revision of the medical curriculum. In parallel with the process of defining and adjusting the medical curriculum, a large survey was performed to inquire the perspectives of the medical students at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP), Portugal, about the role of Histology and of Embryology.MethodsMedical students at FMUP (Portugal) completed a structured and anonymous online questionnaire about the subjects Histology and Embryology. The questionnaire was prepared using questions of previous surveys performed in Europe, including another Portuguese medical school, and additional questions that were specifically prepared to this study. The questions referred to teaching methods, clinical relevance, use of virtual (digital) microscopes and association of Histology and Embryology with other subjects of the medical curriculum.ResultsFour hundred and sixty-two students participated in the study. The students in clinical years were more likely to recognise the clinical relevance of Histology (p = 0.016) and Embryology (p < 0.001). Students agree that teaching of these subjects would benefit from a clinical orientation (89% for Histology; 90% for Embryology). Students highlighted that Histology is crucial to understand Biopathology and agree (75%) that an integration of Histology with Biopathology could be considered in the medical curriculum. Most students (55%) agree that slide microscopes are more useful than virtual microscopes.ConclusionsOur study contributes to the debate about the evolution of medical curriculum. Gathering the medical students' perceptions using large surveys such as that performed in the present study may be useful to adapt the methods of teaching which may increase the motivation of the students. In the case of Histology and Embryology at the FMUP (Portugal) providing more clinically oriented teaching may be useful to motivate the students. Students of clinical years have strong clinical perspectives of Histology and Embryology and their enrolment in teaching of Histology and Embryology can also contribute to increase motivation of younger students. Consulting and involving medical students in the development of the medical curriculum can be positive and students should be more responsible and engaged in building their own education.

Project description:Backgroud Under the circumstance of school closures caused by the coronavirus outbreak, medical schools in China began implementing online teaching, including histology and embryology (HE) beginning in the middle of February 2020. The changes in HE education in responding to the pandemic in China needs to be determined, for further adaption of online teaching delivery or blended learning. Methods A nationwide survey of the major medical colleges was conducted via WeChat. Results In total, 83 medical schools (one respondent per school) were invited to survey, 78 medical schools responded which represented most medical schools across all the provinces in mainland China, as well as Hong Kong and Macao. The results revealed that 77% (n = 60) and 58% (n = 45) of the responding schools had conducted HE theoretical and practical online teaching, respectively, prior to the pandemic; however, 27% (n = 21) of the medical schools had temporally suspended practical sessions at the time the survey was completed. During the pandemic, 73% (n = 57) and 29% (n = 23) of the medical schools delivered HE theoretical and practical sessions by synchronous live broadcasting, respectively; 65% (n = 51) of the medical schools increased virtual microscopy using during practical sessions. During the pandemic, 54% (n = 42) of the medical schools implemented teaching activities promoting active learning; meanwhile, online assessment was implemented in 84% (n = 66) of the responding medical schools. With regard to the satisfaction with the effectiveness of online teaching during the pandemic, 64% (n = 50) of the medical schools gave positive answers and considered that it was a good opportunity to develop novel and diversified teaching methods. Despite various difficulties such as work overload and unstable online teaching environments, most medical schools are willing to continue or increase theoretical online teaching after the pandemic. Conclusions Medical institutes in China were the earliest of closing campuses and having complete online teaching experience during the pandemic. This paper presents overall HE teaching situation extracted from the survey, to assist other medical schools optimizing the transitions to quality online teaching within a short time, and to serve as reference for schools that demand essential knowledge in online teaching methods, infrastructure construction, and platform integrations.

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Effect of an eLearning Intervention on Undergraduate Health Professional Student's General Histology and Embryology Summative Examination Scores.

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Effect of an eLearning Intervention on Undergraduate Health Professional Student's General Histology and Embryology Summative Examination Scores.

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