RESUMEN
Background: Animal experiments have been restricted due to strict Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA) rules and regulations for animal procurement and experimentation. At present, teaching is done by showing cards with tracings. This helps in the development of cognitive domain only. There is a need to change the traditional passive learning methodologies to an active technology based experimental learning methodology. Present educational interventional study is aimed at enhancing learning and making teaching interactive and interesting by introducing Computer Assisted Learning (CAL). Objectives of the study are to assess and evaluate the learning outcome of two methods (teaching by showing cards and computer assisted) in experimental Pharmacology and to assess the perception of students and faculty towards implementation of CAL.Methods: The study was conducted at Sarawathi Institute of Medical Sciences, Hapur, UP, India. A departmental meeting was organized to sensitize the faculty members. Test and feedback questionnaire were prepared. Participants were divided into two groups. One group was taught by cards and another by CAL. For second experiment students cross over was done. Students were assessed by post-test analysis. Feedback from the faculty and students were taken and analyzed.Results: There was improvement in knowledge of students as shown from results of post-test analysis. More than 86% of the faculty members and 80% of the students rated CAL methodology more than 3 at Likert scale.Conclusions: As compared to teaching by cards, the learning was enhanced by CAL. Students found CAL more enjoyable, interactive, comprehensible and easy to retain. In future, students would prefer CAL as an alternative method of learning in experimental laboratory.