E-learning resources 'have positive learning outcomes for med students'

New research has found that e-learning resources for first-year medical students studying biochemistry are a useful supplement to conventional lecture-based teaching.

The Department of Biochemistry at Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, India conducted the survey into how e-learning was impacting biochemistry students. They found that e-resources were used extensively in their studies, having positive results on their learning outcomes overall.

India's medical college is one of the first to supplement conventional teaching with e-learning resources, and their positive outcome could lead to a wider adoption of the teaching methods.

Some 60 first-year students were involved in the study, with 99 per cent of them reporting that the modern resources positively impacted their studies. The results were compiled in a questionnaire that was distributed at the end of the one-year biochemistry courses.

They found that the usefulness of the resources increased as the year progressed, which may suggest that students take some time to acclimatise to the new teaching methods. 83 per cent of students said that the extent to which they understood the subject improved, and 86 per cent said their ability to answer questions in assessments had got better.

Posted by Fiona Griffiths