Computer-aided learning in the real world of medical education: does the quality of interaction with the computer affect student learning?

BACKGROUND: Computerised learning clearly offers exciting potential for improving student learning, either as an aid to or as a replacement for traditional formats, or for the development of innovative approaches. However, rigorous evaluation of the utility of computer-aided learning (CAL) in enhanc...

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Publicado en:Medical Education Vol. 38; no. 8; pp. 887 - 896
Autor principal: Hudson JN
Formato: clinical trial research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Wiley-Blackwell Aug2004
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      pub: Wiley-Blackwell
      place: Malden, Massachusetts
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        10.1111/j.1365-2929.2004.01892.x
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        atl: Computer-aided learning in the real world of medical education: does the quality of interaction with the computer affect student learning?
      aug:
        au: Hudson JN
        affil: Senior Lecturer in Clinical Education, Peninsula Medical School, St. Lukes, Exeter EX1 2LU, UK; nicky.hudson@pms.ac.uk
      sug:
        subj:
          Computer-Assisted Instruction Evaluation
          Education, Medical Evaluation
          Educational Measurement Evaluation
          Clinical Trials
          Coefficient alpha
          Data Analysis Software
          Data Analysis, Statistical
          Descriptive Statistics
          Funding Source
          Mann-Whitney U Test
          Pretest-Posttest Design
          South Australia
          Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test
          Human
      ab: BACKGROUND: Computerised learning clearly offers exciting potential for improving student learning, either as an aid to or as a replacement for traditional formats, or for the development of innovative approaches. However, rigorous evaluation of the utility of computer-aided learning (CAL) in enhancing student learning can be difficult. Many studies have compared CAL to more traditional learning formats, but there is little evidence to show which style of CAL leads to the best learning outcomes. AIM: This study aimed to test the hypothesis that a CAL tutorial, in which the learner actively interacts with the computer, will result in superior learning (ability to apply and retain knowledge) to that obtained in more passive CAL formats. METHODS: Third year medical undergraduates at Adelaide University, South Australia were randomly assigned to 4 groups. Following a pretest, only students in the 'didactic', 'problem-based' and 'free text' groups had 2 weeks of free access to a neuroradiology CAL tutorial in their assigned format. Tutorial access was denied to all students 2 weeks before post-testing. Learning was quantified by comparing the post- to pretest scores for each of the 4 groups. RESULTS: After active interaction with the computer material, students in the free text group demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in their ability to apply and retain knowledge compared to the control group, but no advantage compared to the didactic group. CONCLUSIONS: While users of an interactive CAL tutorial demonstrated significant learning gains compared to non-CAL users, these gains were not superior to those achieved from non-interactive CAL. When evaluating education interventions such as CAL packages, it is important to use a valid assessment tool to measure learning.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        clinical trial
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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