Asynchronous e-learning in microbiology for undergraduate medical students

ABSTRACT

Background: The most common teaching method in medical institutes in India and throughout the globe is standard lesson-based teaching. E-learning is the use of internet technology to facilitate conscious learning and increase knowledge and competences, notably during the COVID-19 epidemic. Aim and Objectives: The aim of study was to develop a module for an interactive disease-based e-learning teaching session to impart knowledge to undergraduate medical students regarding the microbiological diagnostic techniques for enteric fever/the given organism with objectives of the study was (i) to investigate how Phase II MBBS students feel about e-learning;(ii) to evaluate the impact of this intervention on students;and (iii) to encourage application of this imparted knowledge and skill for rapid, precise, and early diagnosis of the disease. Material and Methods: The research was conducted at the department of microbiology. This was done for the session 2020–2021 of Phase II undergraduate students. All the second professional MBBS were enrolled in the study n = 229 and were better informed about the definition of e-learning. The course material was provided in the form of PowerPoint presentations, questionnaires, and text questions using Google Docs. Students provided feedback in the form of a semi-structured pre-validated set of questions at the conclusion of the week, and the collected data were quantitatively analyzed. There were both closed-ended and open-ended questions in the survey. Results: The results of the feedback questionnaire revealed that the program was of benefit to the students. Nearly 77% of students felt the new teaching and learning method enhanced their grasp of the courses and that the issues presented were important to them. Conclusion: The students responded in a positive way to the new teaching and learning method. It was informative, applicable, and effective to the students. It also increased the level of communication and feedback between teacher and students. To conclude, in the medical program, e-resources may be used to enhance conventional lesson-based instruction.