Dear Dr.Dharwadkar,

Nice input.But---------

1.Costly setup is needed.

2.Slow or unreliable Internet connections can be frustrating

3. Managing learning software can involve a learning curve

4. Some courses such as traditional hands-on courses can be difficult to simulate

Regards

Dr.Sharon

Dear Dr.Ramani madam,

Very apt points.But-------

1.The recent rapid development of information technology has allowed electronic learning or “elearning” to obtain a place in the “teaching toolbox”.

Most medical students view e-learning as enjoyable and effective but, interestingly, do not see it replacing traditional didactic methods.

2.The satisfaction is not correlated with test scores, where there is often no significant difference between the two pedagogic approaches.

Regards

Dr.Sharon

Dear Dr.K.P.Joshi,

Very extensive & valid argument in favour of e-Learning.But----

1.The development of case scenarios is very time consuming and interactivty is still limited by the imagination of the subject expert writing the case and, to some degree, by the content engineer who programmes it.

2.Even with today’s extensive and pervasive use of technology in medical education, some of the basic questions related to the role of e-learning remain unanswered, such as:

i. What is an effective approach to integrating technology into pre-clinical vs. clinical training?

ii. What evidence exists regarding the type and format of e-learning technology suitable for medical specialties and clinical settings?

iii.Which design features are known to be effective in designing on-line patient simulation cases, tutorials, or clinical exams?

iv.What guidelines exist for determining an appropriate blend of instructional strategies, including on-line learning, face-to-face instruction, and performance-based skill practices?

3.Internet security & intrution by hackers is definitely one of the biggest problems of the Internet.

Regards

Dr.Sharon

Dear Dr.Sunil,

Your debate points are good.

But...........

1.“Lessons in the practical arts demand the presence and help of a master.” Collectanae, Pietro Monte, 1509 AD.

*Psychomotor (physical) skills are best learned by doing them. Most of these cannot be learned from a computer.

2.Some packages allow the student to take a virtual history using a bank of questions and examine the virtual patient. This may have a place but it is difficult to envisage how pointing and clicking on a stethoscope,then dragging it to the patient's chest to listen to a virtual heart will be of much benefit. Such skills are probably best learnt along with other psychomotor skills at the bedside or in the simulator.

Regards

Dr.Sharon

Dear Dr.Vijayetha,

Real time training with direct interaction with teachers does give an upper hand to traditional method of learning.

Many students do have a positive attitude towards e-Learning but do not favour the traditional learning being replaced by e-learning

Regards

Dr.Sharon

Dear Dr.Padmanabh

You have put up a strong argument in favour of e-Learning.

But----

1.Concentration lapses or intrusions do pose a hindrance to smooth learning

2.Lack of knowledge of the e-learning process acts as a stumbling block

3.Unavailability of the instructors or problems with connectivity,

uninterrupted power supply etc. pose a major problem in our country

Regards

Dr.Sharon

Dear Shyamala,your point is valid.But----

1.Unmotivated learners & Learners with poor study habits find it hard or disadvantageous

2.The instuctors may not always be available when needed

3.The human touch or interaction is absent or lost

Regards

Dr.Sharon

Dear all,

This is Dr.S.Sharon Sonia,ACME 2017.

“ Please find my response to Thread 1.2elearningbasics

23rdDec201726th Dec 2017”

I’m in Group 2- Against the Motion (No, E-learning is waste of time and resources)

“Space is big, really big...”—The Hitch‐Hikers Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams

Medicine comprises a vast collection of knowledge, skills and attitudes. The trainee practitioner must achieve a large number of learning objectives within each domain of learning to be considered competent to practice.Continuing professional development (CPD) is required to maintain and further develop competence.

The following are the reasons why E-learning is a waste of time & resources:

1. Unmotivated learners or those with poor study habits may fall behind.Self-motivation on the

part of the learner makes e-learning work.

2. Students may feel isolated or miss social interaction

Many critics consider that using e-mail or chat rooms to obtain a contact with the professor is actually the main disadvantage of this system of learning.Face-to-face contact is missing as well as the opportunity of student-professor relationship building.

3. Lack of familiar structure and routine may take getting used to.

4. Instructor may not always be available on demand

5. Costly setup is needed.Slow or unreliable Internet connections can be frustrating

6. Managing learning software can involve a learning curve

7. Some courses such as traditional hands-on courses can be difficult to simulate

Multimedia technologies must be congruent with the organizations learning model and actual teaching practices as well as with students’ expectations and capabilities for autonomy and self-direction.

8.The acquisition of learning objectives in both undergraduate and postgraduate medical education can be achieved by a mixture of modalities including

apprenticeship,

didactic teaching (lecturing),

self study and

small group learning.

It is clear that some of these teaching tools are better than others at helping the learner achieve his or her objectives.

9.The recent rapid development of information technology has allowed electronic learning or “elearning” to obtain a place in the “teaching toolbox”.

Most medical students view e-learning as enjoyable and effective but, interestingly, do not see it replacing traditional didactic methods.

10.The satisfaction is not correlated with test scores, where there is often no significant difference between the two pedagogic approaches.

11.“Lessons in the practical arts demand the presence and help of a master.” Collectanae, Pietro Monte, 1509 AD.

*Psychomotor (physical) skills are best learned by doing them. Most of these cannot be learned from a computer.

12.Some packages allow the student to take a virtual history using a bank of questions and examine the virtual patient. This may have a place but it is difficult to envisage how pointing and clicking on a stethoscope then dragging it to the patient's chest to listen to a virtual heart will be of much benefit. Such skills are probably best learnt along with other psychomotor skills at the bedside or in the simulator.

13.From a simple ‘disseminator of content’, teachers are increasingly metamorphosing into ‘facilitators for learning’.Computers are good at storing information. They reproduce it accurately time after time and, with appropriate connections, can transmit that knowledge to where it is needed.But-----

As with all enhancements it is important that they are used appropriately and do not detract from the message the teacher is trying to convey.

14.The development of case scenarios is very time consuming and interactivty is still limited by the imagination of the subject expert writing the case and, to some degree, by the content engineer who programmes it.

15.Even with today’s extensive and pervasive use of technology in medical education, some of the basic questions related to the role of e-learning remain unanswered, such as:

i. What is an effective approach to integrating technology into pre-clinical vs. clinical training?

ii. What evidence exists regarding the type and format of e-learning technology suitable for medical specialties and clinical settings?

iii.Which design features are known to be effective in designing on-line patient simulation cases, tutorials, or clinical exams?

iv.What guidelines exist for determining an appropriate blend of instructional strategies, including on-line learning, face-to-face instruction, and performance-based skill practices?

16.Internet security is definitely one of the biggest problems of the Internet & intrution by hackers.

17.Assessment problems:In the assessment of the authentic situation the following issues should be addressed

• Traditional methods demonstrate better organization and they are clearer in respect to distance learning

• Organization and needs for more efficient influence of distance learning very often improve traditional methods by teachers

To conclude,even though e-Learning has the propensity to be an useful innovative educational tool, it requires a costly set-up,uninterrupted connectivity,power supply,internet security &the;lack of human touch or interaction makes it a double-edged educational tool.

Regards

Dr.S.Sharon Sonia,Prof.of Pharmacology,KMC,Kurnool,AP