Zohrehsadat Mirmoghtadaie; Tahereh Hosseinabadi; Fatemeh Tavakoli; Maryam Tabarzad
Abstract
Background: Using augmented reality (AR) in blended learning in the higher education system has exhibited promising results.Objectives: In this study, the effect of using a simple AR-based booklet was evaluated on the learning and practical skills of pharmacy students during a pharmacognosy lab-based ...
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Background: Using augmented reality (AR) in blended learning in the higher education system has exhibited promising results.Objectives: In this study, the effect of using a simple AR-based booklet was evaluated on the learning and practical skills of pharmacy students during a pharmacognosy lab-based course.Methods: A pre-test/post-test controlled trial was designed. The traditional educational booklet was revised by adding experimental videos using QR-code as a simple AR technology. The students’ laboratory skills were scored according to a checklist developed by professionals. The paired t-test was used to compare the mean differences between the pre-test and post-test scores in each group, and ANCOVA was used to compare the mean differences in the post-test scores between the two groups. After adjusting for pre-test scores, ANOVA was used to compare the scores of practical skills between all six groups participating in the lab course.Results: The mean pre-test scores were not significantly different between the control and intervention groups. No significant differences were noticed between the two groups regarding post-test grades. Generally, the students’ practical skills significantly improved; however, changes were more obvious in some indicators, including the number of blatant mistakes, troubleshooting questions, misidentification of materials, and improper use of equipment. The students were well satisfied with the new educational booklet.Conclusion: Although AR makes the learning process an interactive, multi-sensory, and enjoyable experience for students, this novel-designed educational booklet for lab courses needs improvements by using more advanced AR technologies in order to completely fulfil the learning objectives of students.
Fatemeh Farshad; Masoomeh Kheirkhah; Jorma Virtanen; Hossein Hessari
Abstract
Background: Learning is due to behavioral changes in knowledge, skills, and attitude.Objectives: The current research assesses the state of the atmosphere, educational environment, and self-efficacy domains. It also assesses how the educational environment affects dental students' sense of self-efficacy.Methods: ...
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Background: Learning is due to behavioral changes in knowledge, skills, and attitude.Objectives: The current research assesses the state of the atmosphere, educational environment, and self-efficacy domains. It also assesses how the educational environment affects dental students' sense of self-efficacy.Methods: All clinical undergraduate dental students (N=190) at Tehran University of Medical Science's School of Dentistry were the focus of a descriptive-analytical research conducted in 2018. The Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM), the demographic surveys, and the validated Persian version of the Sherer Self-Efficacy Scale were all employed by the researchers. The DREEM assessed students' perceptions of learning (PoL), teaching (PoT), academic self-perception (ASP), atmosphere (PoA), and social self-perception (SSP) in addition to other key categories. Demographic factors and educational data (academic level, admittance quota, overall average grade, final semester grade, employment experience outside of dentistry school, and self-perceived effectiveness) were included in the demographic questionnaire. The factors from the demographic questionnaire were compared to the educational climate and self-efficacy using linear regression analysis. Additionally, the association between the educational environment and self-efficacy was assessed using Pearson's correlation (rho) coefficient.Results: The majority of clinical dentistry students (87.3%) were single, female (52.6%), and lived in dorms. All DREEM domains and the overall educational environment, with the exception of the PoT domain (p-value=0.302), significantly correlated positively with students' self-efficacy (p-value < 0.05). Self-efficacy and the overall educational environment are highly associated (p=0.001, rho=0.311).Conclusion: A good educational atmosphere may enhance dental students’ self-efficacy.
Hoda Ahmari Tehran; Mojgan Mohammadimehr; Fatemeh Keshmiri
Abstract
Background: Planning and conducting successful scholarship of teaching and learning or educational scholarship in medical education is essential. The guidelines for faculty members can be significant.Objectives: This study aimed to develop a practical guide for teaching and learning scholarship activities.Methods: ...
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Background: Planning and conducting successful scholarship of teaching and learning or educational scholarship in medical education is essential. The guidelines for faculty members can be significant.Objectives: This study aimed to develop a practical guide for teaching and learning scholarship activities.Methods: The present study was a research synthesis conducted in six steps, including formulation of problem or question, literature search, data extraction and analysis, interpretation of results, and public presentation. The extracted publications were independently analyzed, and a consensus was reached on each paper’s stated definitions of the educational scholarship steps.Results: The results were classified into 12 steps, including recognizing an educational problem, reviewing the literature, analyzing the context, creating a goal-oriented team of stakeholders, determining objectives and planning the SoTL project, finding supportive resources, considering ethical issues, implementing the scholar activities and analyzing evidence, critical appraisal of the SoTL project, reflecting on the SoTL project, documenting the details of the SoTL project, and going public and disseminating the experiences.Conclusion: Scholars must be able to provide a clear, complete explanation of the innovativeness of their scholarly ideas and the need for this kind of content for their audiences. However, studying and reviewing relevant journals, reflecting on the issues or questions posed, and exchanging ideas with your colleagues are recommended for reviewing and refining scholarly and idea-generation questions.
Azadeh Ebrahimzadeh; Mohammad Reza Abedini; Kherionesa Ramazanzade; Bita Bijari; Hamed Aramjoo; Majid Zare Bidaki
Abstract
Background: Currently medical education in Iran consists of basic sciences, physiopathology and clinical stages. Medical students learn them separately and often are confused that how basic sciences materials would be helpful for the patient’s diagnosis and treatment. Integration of various ...
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Background: Currently medical education in Iran consists of basic sciences, physiopathology and clinical stages. Medical students learn them separately and often are confused that how basic sciences materials would be helpful for the patient’s diagnosis and treatment. Integration of various related subjects during medical education is one the proposed strategy to overcome this problem. Objectives: The present study was conducted to assess the effect of an integrated teaching approach on medical students’ attitudes and knowledge about infection diseases.Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted in the infectious disease ward of Valia-e-asr Hospital affiliated to Birjand University of Medical of Sciences, Birjand, Iran. A total of 60 medical students (stagers) were randomly selected and assigned to the control and intervention groups. The two groups were matched based on their grade point average (GPA), age, and gender. An integrated teaching approach was adopted in the intervention group by four epidemiology, microbiology, infectious diseases, and pharmacology professors. The students’ knowledge was assessed by a written exam, and their attitude was evaluated using a questionnaire. Data was analyzed by SPSS version 16 and using paired and independent samples t-test.Results: The analyses showed that 52% of the participants were male. The mean scores in the cognitive and emotional domains (the students’ points of view) were not correlated with students’ gender, and they were not significantly different before (p= 0.12) and after (p= 0.25) the intervention. The students’ final learning scores were significantly higher in the intervention group than that of the control group (16.16±1.17 vs 14.12±1.73; p=0.001).Conclusion: The integration of basic and clinical subjects helps students to better understand the physiopathology of diseases and enhances their satisfaction.
Leili Mosalanejad; Mehdi M Dastpak; Sedigheh Najafipour
Abstract
Background: Medical education professionally requires the development of analytical and diagnostic thinking skills, not just accumulation. It used to help the student from exposure to real estate problems by developing analytical skills.Objectives: This case study reports the process of design and educational ...
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Background: Medical education professionally requires the development of analytical and diagnostic thinking skills, not just accumulation. It used to help the student from exposure to real estate problems by developing analytical skills.Objectives: This case study reports the process of design and educational outcome of teaching medical etiquette from new student–center strategies by art.Methods: In this experience, the educational process started during the two courses of medical etiquette courses and is performed every semester from 2018. Combination casebased/ scenario-based teaching with art in education in traditional and virtual conditions during three concurrent years was a unique experience to teaching medical etiquette courses.Results: As a result, this program created fun, engagement, different teaching of lessons in interaction with teamwork, rethinking in performance, and student’s excitement and motivation in presenting the students’ learning products.Conclusion: This process is an active cycle of reflection on performance and program and can be used as a model by medical etiquette teachers. We suggest more research should be developed by researchers to access all aspects of program in students’ learning and indicators.
Roghaye Ershad Sarabi; Maryam Salmani; Elham Danesh; Arash Farvahari
Abstract
Background: The proper health worker-patient communication is one of the main factors that affect patients’ satisfaction and improve healthcare outcomes. Objectives: The current study aimed at comparing the effect of the two widely used teaching methods, role-playing and lecturing, on learning ...
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Background: The proper health worker-patient communication is one of the main factors that affect patients’ satisfaction and improve healthcare outcomes. Objectives: The current study aimed at comparing the effect of the two widely used teaching methods, role-playing and lecturing, on learning the communication skills among health workers of Kerman health centers in Iran, 2018.Methods: The current interventional study included all health workers in Kerman City as the statistical population of whom 120 selected by the census method. Then, they were randomly assigned to three groups of 40 subjects. The first group was trained by role-playing, the second group by lecturing, and the third group, as control, received no training. All the subjects completed the Barton standard relationship communication skills questionnaire before and after the intervention. The data were then analyzed in SPSS software using Wilcoxon test.Results: The mean age of the subjects was 38.54±8.29 years, and 46.7% of them had a high school diploma; 86.7% were married, and 74.2% were females. Based on the findings, the mean score of communication skills in the role-playing group increased from 2.90 to 4.29 after the intervention, which was statistically significant (P <0.001).Conclusion: The score of communication skills (i e, verbal, listening, and feedback skills) in the role-playing group was higher than those of the lecturing and control groups. Therefore, it can be concluded that the role-playing method can be useful in teaching communication skills.
Daryosh Gholipour Mofrad Dashtaki; Aeen Mohammadi; Mitra Zolfaghari; Sakineh Imani; Shahram Tahmasebian
Abstract
Background: Nowadays, several studies have been performed on the factors affecting the effectiveness of virtual education. One of the characteristics of learners is their different learning styles.Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between learning style and the ...
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Background: Nowadays, several studies have been performed on the factors affecting the effectiveness of virtual education. One of the characteristics of learners is their different learning styles.Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between learning style and the level of satisfaction and usage of e-learning facilities in medical students.Methods: This cross-sectional and retrospective (ex post facto) study was performed among medical, public health, and operating room students of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences in 2017. We redesigned their courses to be delivered in the blended method, so that teachers used a Learning Management System (LMS) in addition to traditional teaching. Information about learning styles was collected using Kolb’s questionnaire, satisfaction level evaluated with a researcher made questionnaire and use of e-learning was examined by checking system loggings. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, Tukey’s post hoc, Welch’s ANOVA and X2 tests in SPSS software.Results: Students’ satisfaction with e-content in diverging learning style was higher (P = 0.032), but there was no significant relationship between learning style and demographic characteristics and total average mark. Also, there was no significant difference in the amount of using e-learning facilities between different learning style groups (P = 0.256).Conclusion: It seems that using virtual learning facilities and considering the type of learning style in students can increase their satisfaction.
Fatemeh Keshmiri; Seyedeh Elham Fazljoo
Abstract
Background: Reflection plays an important role in in-depth learning. Reflective ability must develop among students of medical sciences.Objectives: The aim of this study was the psychometric assessment of the Reflection in Learning Scale and evaluating this ability among nursing students.Methods: This ...
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Background: Reflection plays an important role in in-depth learning. Reflective ability must develop among students of medical sciences.Objectives: The aim of this study was the psychometric assessment of the Reflection in Learning Scale and evaluating this ability among nursing students.Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on nursing students of Shahid Sadeghi University of Medical Sciences (Yazd, Iran) in 2019.The participants selected by the census. The research was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, the validity (qualitative and quantitative methods), Confirmatory factor analysis, and reliability of Reflection in Learning Scale were evaluated. In the second phase, the reflection in learning was assessed using this tool. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical tests by SPSS software.Results: The content and face validity of the scale were confirmed. Internal consistency of the instrument was 0.92 using Cronbach's alpha coefficient and ICC of 0.90 determined. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed acceptable indices: goodness of fit index =0.89, standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) = 0.06, root mean square error of approximation = 0.18. Learners' reflection ability with a mean score of 4.37 ± 1.04 was at a moderate level.Conclusion: The Persian version of Reflection in Learning Scale is a valid and reliable tool and can be used to assess reflection abilities in learners. Nursing students' reflection ability was at a moderate level. Therefore, planning to assess reflection ability in nursing education by the tool is recommended.
Mahmood Reza Dehghani; Somaye Noori Hekmat; Amin Beigzadeh
Elham Jafari; Shariar Dabiri; Foroogh Mangeli; Reza Baneshi
Abstract
Background According to the importance of the clinical pathology for diagnosis, decision making regarding preventive and minimally invasive methods, and treatment follow-ups, it is useful to familiarize medical students with better utilization of laboratory tests before clinical practice and incorporate ...
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Background According to the importance of the clinical pathology for diagnosis, decision making regarding preventive and minimally invasive methods, and treatment follow-ups, it is useful to familiarize medical students with better utilization of laboratory tests before clinical practice and incorporate them into the curriculum. Objectives The current study aimed at investigating the quality of education and satisfaction with clinical pathology course among medical students at physiopathology level initiated since 2014 at Kerman University of Medical Sciences for further systematization of the curriculum, and its efficacy in increasing students’ knowledge. Methods In the current interventional study, medical students at physiopathology level were enrolled and, after making necessary coordination with the Deputy of Education, a one-unit clinical pathology course was added to routine (five-unit) physiopathology course for the students attending the second semester of 2013 - 2014 academic year. Two groups of students attending internship program including 42 subjects that took the clinical pathology course and 42 other ones that did not take the course were consecutively enrolled. A questionnaire was distributed among the subjects in the two groups and the obtained data were analyzed with SPSS version 19.0 using chi-square test. Results Overall, the medical students in both groups believed that clinical pathology course was essential for both theoretical and practical education. Most of the students in the two groups perceived that the inclusion of clinical pathology course in physiopathology course was good. Both groups perceived the course as useful for better management of patients in postgraduate studies. Conclusions There is no theoretical and applied academic course with rational systematic training objectives in the clinical pathology field for better utilization of laboratory tests. It highlights the need for paying further attention and planning in this field.
Masoumeh Rahimi; Majid Shirani
Abstract
Background The operating room is considered a learning platform for technical and non-technical skill training. Training in operating rooms helps learners from different groups, especially surgery residents, acquire the necessary clinical competence. Nevertheless, operating room training is only effective ...
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Background The operating room is considered a learning platform for technical and non-technical skill training. Training in operating rooms helps learners from different groups, especially surgery residents, acquire the necessary clinical competence. Nevertheless, operating room training is only effective if it is accompanied by efficient and applicable teaching methods. Objectives The current study aimed at reviewing the strategies and methods to enhance teaching and learning of residents in operating room settings. Methods The current review study was conducted based on library studies and review of the literature. PubMed, SID, and MagIran databases, as well as Google Scholar search engine, were searched using relevant phrases and keywords. A total of 60 articles were retrieved, out of which 22 articles were identified as consistent with the study objectives. Results The data obtained from the literature review were categorized into three sections: “General structure of training in the operating room”, “strategies and methods to strengthen teaching and learning in the operating room”, and “structured training models in the operating room”. Finally, application of these strategies in clinical teaching was summarized in three stages: Before operation, during operation, and after operation. Conclusions The operating room is a clinical facility with specific characteristics, which can challenge teaching in this setting. However, application of effective strategies and methods, as well as efficiently structured training based on the proposed models can facilitate teaching and learning enhancement in operating rooms.
Hatef Ghasemihamidabadi; Myamar Nazm Bojnordi; Noorolah Rezaei; Ali Delbari
Abstract
Background According to most students, neuroanatomy is difficult to learn. Although different approaches have been suggested for learning neuroanatomical correlations, it seems that none have been effective in aiding learning of afferent and efferent connections. The aim of this study was to develop ...
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Background According to most students, neuroanatomy is difficult to learn. Although different approaches have been suggested for learning neuroanatomical correlations, it seems that none have been effective in aiding learning of afferent and efferent connections. The aim of this study was to develop an innovative method that will facilitate learning of afferent and efferent nervous system connections. Methods A total of 140 medical students at the Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences participated in the current study, of which 69 subjects were trained using traditional methods (control group). An innovative method was employed for the remaining 71 subjects (intervention group). In the intervention group, a name and figure were first allocated to each of the nervous system structures in a way that would remind students of the origin of the structure. The students created 3-part names for the allocated structures that were, if possible, humorous. The first part was the alternative name for the structure, and the second and third parts were the alternative names for afferent and efferent structures. The students learned the afferent and efferent connections through the phrases. Each group passed a 12-item pretest and posttest. Results of the tests were analyzed with SPSS using the paired t-test; P ≤ 0.05 was considered to be significant. Results There was no significant difference in the pretest scores between the study groups (control: 1.64 ± 0.86; intervention: 1.60 ± 0.89; P = 0.40). The posttest score of the intervention group (8.15 ± 1.16) was significantly higher than that of the control (3.75 ± 0.077; P < 0.001). Conclusions An innovative method can facilitate student learning of afferent and efferent nervous system connections.
Fariba Derakhshan; Simin Yazdanfar; Abbas Allami
Volume 13, Issue 6 , March 2017, , Pages 632-637
Abstract
Background & Objective: Concept mapping is an active creative and objective practice which improves the advanced learning process and students required skills The aim of this study was the evaluation of concept mapping method in learning histology lessons from the point of view of midwifery students ...
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Background & Objective: Concept mapping is an active creative and objective practice which improves the advanced learning process and students required skills The aim of this study was the evaluation of concept mapping method in learning histology lessons from the point of view of midwifery students Methods: The present research was a descriptive crosssectional study The target population consisted of all firstsemester midwifery students of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences Iran in 2015 After concept mapping education the students were asked to make a concept map of the lessons of the same week and to hand it in the following session At the end of the semester students views regarding the effect of concept mapping on learning were collected by completing the researchermade questionnaire The collected data were analyzed in SPSS software Frequency distribution was presented in the form of frequency tables Onesample ttest was used to compare the mean score of each question with its mean and 3 (the value of the mean) Results: In this study 689% of students confirmed the usefulness of concept mapping during the semester Among the students 69% believed other methods to be more effective However 586% of students found it effective in memorizing histological terms and 655% emphasized that concept mapping helped them better understand histology lessons Independent ttest results showed a significant difference between the mean score of each question and 3 This revealed that mapping was useful in better understanding (P = 0003) maintaining terminology (P = 0004) and answering questions (P = 0001) In general the majority of students approved the use of concept mapping as an effective learning method during the term (P < 0001) Conclusion: This study showed that concept maps are acceptable among students as a means of learning new information Therefore in order to facilitate learning for students the application of different training strategies like concept mapping is suggested in basic medical sciences educations
Mahshid Loloie; Ali Akbar Haghdoost; Azam Bazrafshan; Maryam Okhovati; Ali Mohammad Mokhtari; Morteza Zare
Volume 13, Issue 5 , January 2017, , Pages 505-514
Abstract
Background & Objective: academic failure has always been one of the major challenges of higher education institutions that could cause serious individual and social outcomes This study aimed to analysis the effect of potential factors on students academic failure in Kerman University of Medical Sciences ...
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Background & Objective: academic failure has always been one of the major challenges of higher education institutions that could cause serious individual and social outcomes This study aimed to analysis the effect of potential factors on students academic failure in Kerman University of Medical Sciences Iran Methods: This was an unmatched casecontrol study The study population consisted of all undergraduate students of Kerman University of Medical Sciences in two semesters in 2012 From 514 selected students 246 were assigned to the case group and the rest were studied in the control group Data were collected using a selfadministered questionnaire via consensus methodology The questionnaire consisted of three sections: individual family and academic factors Reliability of the questionnaire was approved by a group of faculty members and its internal consistency was estimated as 082 Data were analyzed using SPSS software Results: The mean age of studied students was 222 years The mean grade point average (GPA) of was 142 and 169 in cases and controls respectively Academic failure was 164 times more in boys than the girls (P = 002) and 159 times more in students who had a sense of frustration (P = 002) Students who reported using drugs tobacco or alcohol experienced academic failure 639 times more than the others (P = 001) Conclusion: Academic failure is a phenomenon affected by multiple factors Therefore reducing it requires the participation of a wide range of people taking part in students learning
Mahsa Kalantary; Mahsa Sayadi; Maryam Sadat Hashemipoor
Volume 13, Issue 4 , November 2016, , Pages 326-336
Abstract
Background & Objective: Educational institutes have different approaches to the evaluation of their activities Many factors in the teaching process affect the learning process This study investigated the attitudes of dental students in the School of Dentistry of Kerman University of Medical Sciences ...
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Background & Objective: Educational institutes have different approaches to the evaluation of their activities Many factors in the teaching process affect the learning process This study investigated the attitudes of dental students in the School of Dentistry of Kerman University of Medical Sciences (Iran) toward the current educational condition and learning atmosphere using the Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) Methods: This descriptive crosssectional study was performed on 205 dental students in 2013 DREEM includes questions on demographic information and 50 questions in 5 subscales (students perceptions of learning students perceptions of teachers students academic selfperceptions students perceptions of atmosphere and students social selfperceptions) The collected data were then analyzed using SPSS software Results: The mean of the achieved scores in the 5 subscales was 15223 ± 1563 out of 250 among men and 16464 ± 1880 among women Amongst the study population 9% found the educational conditions highly undesirable Statistically significant differences were observed only for the learning subscale between the 3rdyear and 4thyear students Conclusion: Students attitudes toward the learning environment of Kerman University of Medical Sciences were mostly positive but there were some inconsistencies It seems that stress fatigue and lack of feedback from teachers has caused negative emotions among students
Alireza Khodaei; Sasan Ganjei; Masoumeh Mansourian
Volume 13, Issue 2 , June 2016, , Pages 182-191
Abstract
Background & Objective: Pharmacology education for nursing students aims to teach them how to acquire the necessary skills in the field of patients pharmaceutical cares; the acquisition of these skills is one of the necessary qualifications in nursing profession This study aimed to determine the ...
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Background & Objective: Pharmacology education for nursing students aims to teach them how to acquire the necessary skills in the field of patients pharmaceutical cares; the acquisition of these skills is one of the necessary qualifications in nursing profession This study aimed to determine the factors affecting learning and development of clinical skills in pharmacology course from the viewpoint of nursing students Methods: In this descriptive study 200 nursing students of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Iran selected through convenient sampling in 2014 were enrolled Data were gathered through a researchermade questionnaire consisted of six categories including instructors clinical competence instructors educational competence instructors interpersonal communication clinical learning environment curriculum planning and student factors The collected data were analyzed through descriptive and analytical statistics (MannWhitney and KruskalWallis tests) Results: Instructors clinical competence (232 ± 033) and clinical learning environment (213 ± 039) had the most and the least effects on learning and development of clinical skills in pharmacology course from the students viewpoints respectively Conclusion: Paying attention to and strengthening the instructors qualifications recruiting efficient teachers and creating appropriate clinical environment can have important role in learning medical care On the other hand considering the motivational factors affecting students success in acquiring knowledge and experience and their appreciation of the importance and necessity of proper medication and providing strategies to increase students clinical learning can facilitate and strengthen learning process of pharmaceutical care
Majid Zare-Bidaki; Sajad Sadrinia; Ali Rajabpour-Sanati
Volume 12, Issue 1 , May 2015, , Pages 18-27
Abstract
Background & Objective: The core of each WBT system is an online software called learning management system (LMS) The existence of such a system in each university is the minimum requirement for the application and development of WBT methods The present study aimed to investigate the frequency ...
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Background & Objective: The core of each WBT system is an online software called learning management system (LMS) The existence of such a system in each university is the minimum requirement for the application and development of WBT methods The present study aimed to investigate the frequency of LMS usage in Iranian medical universities in comparison with the universities of developed countries Methods: This descriptive crosssectional analysis was performed in 2014 The study population consisted of Iranian medical universities and the universities of 4 developed Englishspeaking countries including USA Canada Australia and UK From among the Iranian universities a total of 52 universities were selected using the census method Moreover 58 universities were randomly selected from among 450 wellknown universities of developed countries The data from LMS of Iranian medical universities were collected through visiting university websites telephone calls and in some cases facetoface interviews The data were analyzed by descriptive methods Results: Of the 52 Iranian universities of medical sciences 33 universities (635%) did not have any LMSs for delivery courses in academic degree programs Of the 19 universities (365%) with LMSs Moodle ATutor Docebo and nativedesigned LMSs were found in 11 4 1 and 3 universities respectively In addition 16 Iranian universities used open source LMSs and 3 used commercial LMSs All 58 (100%) universities of developed countries used LMSs for delivery courses in their academic degree programs Blackboard Moodle Canvas Desire2learn and Sakai were used in 30 13 8 1 and 1 foreign universities respectively Moreover 2 universities were in transition stage and 3 universities used the Mooc system Conclusion: Iran universities showed a considerable difference from universities in developed countries in terms of frequency of LMS usage Educational and IT administrators in Iran should fill this gap especially at high ranking universities
Kambiz Bahaadinbeigi; Zahra Sadat Izi; Simin Salehinejad; Zahra Jarareh; Roya Vatankhah
Volume 11, Issue 4 , February 2015, , Pages 456-463
Abstract
Background & Objective: Today new technology has provided the visually impaired with equal opportunities for education and access to essential information The use of these technologies by students with visual impairment is vital The purpose of this study was to design an application for health training ...
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Background & Objective: Today new technology has provided the visually impaired with equal opportunities for education and access to essential information The use of these technologies by students with visual impairment is vital The purpose of this study was to design an application for health training of the visually impaired and assess their views about its advantages and disadvantages Methods: This was a qualitative study in which a list of mental health information essential for the visually impaired was provided as a result of interviewing 15 blind individuals with different education degrees Subsequently this information was recorded in audio files by a person with appropriate voice and presented in the form of a multimedia compact disc Finally their views were evaluated Results: The results of this study showed that the blind were generally satisfied with the quality of the software and believed it improves their learning However some of the participants believed its content must be better and present more complete information about diseases They believed that this application should be designed for other health information necessary to them Conclusion: Considering the role of information technology and elearning tools in improvement of learning in the visually impaired and the necessity of health information for them trainers and training managers must consider designing and implementing of such tools to educate essential health issues
Ali Fakhr-Movahedi; Sajjad Sadeghi; Mohaddeseh Yousefpour
Volume 11, Issue 4 , February 2015, , Pages 523-533
Abstract
Background & Objective: Clinical teaching is an important process that prepares students for professional life The present study aims to identify bachelor nursing students viewpoints toward the effect of lectures behaviors on their learning during clinical courses Methods: This was a descriptive ...
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Background & Objective: Clinical teaching is an important process that prepares students for professional life The present study aims to identify bachelor nursing students viewpoints toward the effect of lectures behaviors on their learning during clinical courses Methods: This was a descriptive crosssectional study The participants consisted of 145 nursing students Data collection tool was a sevenpoint Likert scale that measured students viewpoints toward the effect of lecturers behaviors on their learning during clinical courses Finally the data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics methods and SPSS software Results : Data analysis showed that mean effective behaviors was higher than the average limit (559 ± 121) Moreover behavioral characteristics such as interpersonal relations personality teaching ability evaluation and professional competency obtained the highest scores respectively Conclusion: Professional and appropriated behaviors of lecturers during students clinical courses can enhance their learning Thus the executive authorities and training providers in the field of nursing education must provide the necessary circumstance to enhance lecturers behaviors in clinical settings
Maryam Okhovati; Mina Moradzadeh; Farzaneh Zolala
Volume 11, Issue 2 , August 2014, , Pages 139-152
Abstract
Background & Objective: Recently a new technology ie Web 20 has emerged and it is increasingly used in education Wiki is one of the web 20 application which is used in Elearning Wiki is a simple easy editable interactive application that enhances learning so this study was conducted to investigate ...
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Background & Objective: Recently a new technology ie Web 20 has emerged and it is increasingly used in education Wiki is one of the web 20 application which is used in Elearning Wiki is a simple easy editable interactive application that enhances learning so this study was conducted to investigate the effect of using wiki on learning information searching skills on medical students in Kerman University of Medical Sciences Iran Methods: The study population included the medical students who have chosen the information technology (IT) course in the second semester in 2013 The course was held in four groups two groups were selected randomly One group was considered as test group teaching through wiki (wikispaces) The second one was the control group traditional teaching (lecture) We asked about students attitudes toward learning through a researchermade questionnaire Result: The most of the students (719%) have used at least one of the web 20 technologies and 219% used Wikis The mean scores of two groups increased and the difference between the mean scores was significant The mean and standard deviation of the students scores before and after training through Wiki enhanced from 280 ± 185 to 1285 ± 426 whereas it was 383 ± 430 to 1375 ± 325 in the traditional group (P < 0001) There was no significant association between two teaching methods (wiki and traditional) (P = 0560) and the improvement of both groups was almost equivalent but most of students (55%) preferred training by wiki Conclusion: Teaching through Wiki had a positive effect on learning Regarding Wiki capabilities it can be used as a supplement method for teaching
Parvaneh Sharifi; Abbas Rahmati
Volume 10, Issue 1 , May 2013, , Pages 27-35
Abstract
Background & Objective: One goal of education is to prepare students to deal with future issues and to be innovative Therefore the issues related to their learning be focused on and strengthened This study has been done to evaluate the effect of note taking skills training on the students academic ...
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Background & Objective: One goal of education is to prepare students to deal with future issues and to be innovative Therefore the issues related to their learning be focused on and strengthened This study has been done to evaluate the effect of note taking skills training on the students academic self–efficacy Methods: This study was done using test method (Pretest posttest with control group) The statistical society included the undergraduate students of the School of Literature and Humanities of Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman Kerman Iran and the School of Public Health of Kerman University of Medical Sciences Iran (20092010) The study sample included 110 undergraduate students 55 in the experimental group (30 cases of literature and 25 cases of Public Health) and 55 in the control group (30 cases of literature and 25 cases of Public Health) The samples were selected by a singlestage cluster sampling method For data collection the MorganJinks Student Efficacy Scale (MJSES) was used The pretest was conducted in the two groups before the training The note taking skills training program was carried out in the experimental group in seven 2 hour sessions once a week The test groups were given the posttest after completing the course Ttest and the covariance analysis were used for data analysis Results: Findings showed that academic selfefficacy significantly increased after notetaking training in tested groups (P < 0005) Moreover the comparison of the two colleges showed that teaching these skills had a significant relationship with academic selfefficacy of students of the School of Health (P < 0005) but no significant relationship was found with the students of the School of Literature and Humanities (P > 0005) Conclusion: Due to the positive impact of notetaking skills training it seems that educational practitioners must invest more in the training of this skill and universitys professors as individuals influencing students should include notetaking skills in their academic courses to facilitate the teaching and learning process of these skills
Bibi Eshrat i Zaman; Hasan Babri
Volume 10, Issue 1 , May 2013, , Pages 95-108
Abstract
Background & Objective: Medical education institutions have always been looking for training methods that have high efficiency and effectiveness Thus the present study has been carried out with the aim of identifying the application of blended learning based on the SWOT pattern in Isfahan University ...
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Background & Objective: Medical education institutions have always been looking for training methods that have high efficiency and effectiveness Thus the present study has been carried out with the aim of identifying the application of blended learning based on the SWOT pattern in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences Isfahan Iran Methods: This was mixed methods and exploratory research The statistical population consisted of all the faculty members students and IT professionals For the samples 39 were selected from faculty members and 102 from students according to stratified random sampling for quantitative research and 10 from IT professionals according to purposive sampling to be interviewed The instruments for collecting data in the quantitative part were the researchermade questionnaire and in the qualitative part the deep semistructured interview Results: The results of the study showed that the areas of weakness and strength in the internal dimension and in the opportunities and threats in the external dimension were statistically significant The views in the area of strengths were similar however they had significant differences in other areas Moreover the advantages and opportunities have been more than disadvantages and threats of blended learning outlook Conclusion: Despite the weaknesses and threats of the blended learning method all participants in this study were optimistic of the prospects of this method in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
Bibi Eshrat Zamani; Hasan Babri; Setare Mosavi
Volume 9, Issue 2 , January 2013, , Pages 110-117
Abstract
Background & Objective: Learning via mobile as a new stage of electronic learning development has been introduced to provide opportunities for transferring information and improving students learning The present study was carried out to investigate the factors affecting the attitudes of Medical Students ...
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Background & Objective: Learning via mobile as a new stage of electronic learning development has been introduced to provide opportunities for transferring information and improving students learning The present study was carried out to investigate the factors affecting the attitudes of Medical Students toward the acceptance of cellular phone as one of the educational means Methods: In this descriptive correlation research the study population was all the medical students in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences Isfahan Iran Study samples were 214 students selected through clustered random sampling according to the sample size Data collection was performed using a questionnaire designed based on forming constructs and factors of Davis et al (1989) acceptance model The questionnaires validity and reliability were determined through content validity and Cronbachs alpha respectively Results : Variables including the perception of easy usage of elearning the perception of the helpfulness of elearning students attitudes toward elearning and the decision to use it were found to be the factors which positively affect the acceptance and use of this technology among the students at the level of 001 Conclusion: Based on on findings the technology acceptance model of learning via cellular phone was approved in the studied population so that it is applicable to the understudy population
Majid Zare Bidaki; Ali Rajabpour Sanati; Amir Rahmanian Sharifabad
Volume 9, Issue 1 , July 2012, , Pages 18-24
Abstract
Background & Objectives: Mobile technology has provided valuable opportunity for educational planners teachers and students to use it as a continuous process of teaching – learning Mobile books are sources of educational assistance that can be installed and viewed on mobile phones however there ...
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Background & Objectives: Mobile technology has provided valuable opportunity for educational planners teachers and students to use it as a continuous process of teaching – learning Mobile books are sources of educational assistance that can be installed and viewed on mobile phones however there has been already no plan for production and use of them in the universities of Medical Sciences in Iran This study aimed to produce mobile books and assess students attitudes towards this model of learning Methods: First a Javabased electronic book maker software meeting the requirements and specifications of mobile phones was designed Then multimedia learning contents chosen from four medical and paramedical courses were converted and prepared as four mobile books In the next step the attitudes of 158 medical and paramedical students toward mobile learning were collected through a pretest Then the mobile books were installed on mobile cell phones of 106 students to be used by them during the semester At the end of the semester the views of all students toward mobile learning were asked again Data were analyzed using paired and independent ttest Results : According to the results use of mobile books significantly caused a positive attitude and enthusiasm towards elearning (p
Atefeh Ghanbari; Ezzat Paryad; Maryam Ehsani
Volume 7, Issue 2 , January 2011, , Pages 112-118
Abstract
Background & Objective : Teaching basic principles of nursing cares requires applying innovative educational methods Conceptual map method as a new teaching strategy facilitates creative thinking teaching learning and evaluation processes This study aimed at comparing this method with traditional ...
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Background & Objective : Teaching basic principles of nursing cares requires applying innovative educational methods Conceptual map method as a new teaching strategy facilitates creative thinking teaching learning and evaluation processes This study aimed at comparing this method with traditional teaching methods in order to use the results for improving theoretical trainings and consequently the quality of nursing care services Methods : This semiexperimental study was performed in a pre & post test form Nursing students of one semester in Rasht Shaheed Beheshti Nursing & Midwifery School were taught 4 sessions of water and electrolytes by conceptual map method (experimental group) and the nursing students of the following semester were taught by the traditional method (control group) The two groups were compared by applying pre and post tests Data were analyzed through SPSS version 16 and by using Chisquare paired ttest and independent ttest Results : Teaching by conceptual map method could significantly (p