Holt RI, Miklaszewicz P, Cranston IC, Russell-Jones D, Rees PJ, Sonksen PH.
Computer assisted learning is an effective way of teaching endocrinology.
Clinical Endocrinology 2001 Oct;55(4):537-542. Department of Medicine,
Guy's, King's & St Thomas' School of Medicine, St Thomas' Hospital, Lambeth
Palace Road, London, UK. righ@soton.ac.uk.
OBJECTIVES: Computers are a part of everyday life and offer an
exciting way of learning. The aim of our study was to determine the
effectiveness of teaching undergraduate endocrinology using a Computer Assisted
Learning (CAL) programme. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: One hundred and eighty-five first
year clinical medical students were randomly assigned either to attend a series
of conventional lectures (n = 77) or to have the same material available through
a CAL programme. MEASUREMENTS: A multiple choice question examination was
performed before and after the course. Lecture attendance and individual usage
of the computer system were recorded. Students were asked to fill in an
evaluation form at the end of the study. RESULTS: There was no significant
difference in the first examination scores between the groups. Both groups
improved their scores after the course. Students spent longer performing CAL
than attending lectures. Those who scored lowest in the first examination spent
the most time on the CAL course. Those who spent the most time on the CAL course
showed the largest improvement in examination score. Thirty-six out of the 42
students, who completed an evaluation of the CAL programme, rated it better than
the standard lectures. CONCLUSIONS: Computer assisted learning is an effective
way of increasing knowledge in teaching undergraduate endocrinology. The course
was easy to run and was valued more highly than conventional lectures. The
module is now running routinely in the year 3 clinical firms at St Thomas' and
has resulted in an increase in knowledge in the end of firm assessment.
