E-learning: a tool for teaching, marking a new era in pathology A study among the students in NBU, KSA

Abstract

Aim: Teaching and learning are of vital significance in the development of communities. With the significant advancement in digital communication and technology, e-learning is emerging as an important technique for the process of teaching and learning. This study aimed to analyze the perception about the e-learning among the students at the faculty of medicine, Northern Border University, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Material and Method: The MBBS Students taking pathology courses at the faculty of medicine who were willing to be a participant of the present study had been given: 1. Glass slides of ten common lesions to describe in the class and digital images of the 10 similar lesions were posted on the Electronic Learning System (Blackboard) to answer questions based on them. 2. A self-designed-pre-validated questionnaire based on literature was given to the students. Results: The analysis of the results revealed that the majority of the male and female students enjoyed getting information through e-learning. Most of the male, as well as the female students, found that pathology cases posted on the Electronic Learning System (Blackboard) have enhanced their learning. A large number of students suggested that it would be imperative to learn pathology by studying the lesion images using the light microscope and through Electronic Learning System (Blackboard). A segment of students gave the opinion that they would like to study the pathological lesions from the printed pathology manual instead of learning the pathology material available on the Electronic Learning System (Blackboard). Discussion: The e-learning technique is a quite useful tool for teaching pathology. The students enjoy this tool of learning as it enhances the comprehension of the subject among the students.