Is Video Podcast Supplementation as a Learning Aid Beneficial to Dental Students?

INTRODUCTION: Podcasting has recently emerged as an important information technology tool for health professionals. Podcasts can be viewed online or downloaded to a user computer or a handheld multimedia device like a portable MP3 player, smart phone and tablet device. The principal advantage of the podcast is that the presentation of information need not be linked with any particular time or location. Since students are familiar with newer technology tools and may be using it on a regular basis, video podcast could serve as a convenient tool for students to help remember both conceptual and factual information. AIM: The purpose of this study was to assess the attitude of first year dental students towards video podcast supplementation and to assess the efficacy of video podcast as a teaching aid in comparison to text book reading. MATERIALS AND METHODS: First year dental students were recruited for this study. A didactic lecture class was conducted for the students (n=100). The students were then randomly divided into two groups. Students present in group A (n=46) underwent a video podcast session followed by a multiple choice question test. This was followed by student feedback to assess the usefulness of video podcast. Students belonging to group B (n=54) had a study session for 20 minutes followed by the MCQ test. Students then underwent the video podcast session followed by feedback to assess the utility of video podcast. Mann-Whitney U test was applied to compare the difference in the median MCQ score between the two groups. RESULTS: The findings revealed a significant gain in the median MCQ score in the intervention group (group A) when compared to control group (Group B). In the feedback form, 89% of students agreed that the video podcast might be useful as it would enable them to view slides and hear the lectures repeatedly. CONCLUSION: Students who underwent the video podcast session performed significantly better in the MCQ test compared to students who underwent text book reading alone. This demonstrates an advantage of video podcasts over text book reading. Majority of students accepted the benefits of video podcast supplementation.

Team-based learning as a teaching strategy for first-year medical students.

BACKGROUND: Teaching programmes in medical education are now routinely employing active learning strategies to enhance the learning process and engage students in higher levels of learning. Team-based learning (TBL) is one active learning strategy that builds on individuals' strengths by allowing them to collaborate and work as a team to achieve a common learning objective. AIMS: The present study aims to evaluate the impact of TBL on student performance. It also aims to assess students' attitudes towards TBL and the feasibility of its incorporation into the course curriculum. METHODS: From a class of 241 students, 128 who agreed to participate in the study underwent two sessions of TBL each consisting of Individual and Group Readiness Assurance Tests (IRATs and GRATs). The readiness assurance tests each had 13 multiple choice questions (MCQ). To analyse the impact of TBL supplementation, the median sessional MCQ scores of students who underwent TBL supplementation (group 1) were compared with those who did not undergo the session (group 2). Students' experiences with TBL and their attitudes towards incorporation of TBL into the course curriculum were analysed using a feedback questionnaire that was given to students who underwent TBL. RESULTS: Students belonging to the TBL group performed significantly better than the students who did not undergo TBL (p<0.001). The median sessional MCQ score of the TBL group was seven and non-TBL group was six. The overall mean attitude score obtained from feedback questionnaires was 3.57, which indicates a positive attitude towards TBL. CONCLUSION: The team-based learning session improved student engagement with course content. The majority of the students felt that TBL supplementation enhanced their understanding of course content and believe that it will help them perform better in their exams.

Efficacy and perceived utility of podcasts as a supplementary teaching aid among first-year dental students.

BACKGROUND: The advent of newer technology and students' growing familiarity with it has enabled information providers to introduce newer teaching methods such as audio podcasting in education. Inclusion of audio podcasts as a teaching aid for undergraduate medical or dental students could serve as a useful supplement to make reviewing more convenient and to enhance understanding and recall of the subject matter. AIMS: To assess the efficacy of podcasts as a supplementary teaching and learning aid for first-year dental students of Manipal.To study students' attitudes towards audio podcasts and perceived utility of podcasts. METHOD: This study was conducted at the Manipal College of Dental Sciences, India. The participants were first-year dental students. Live lecture classes were conducted for the students (n=80). The students were then divided randomly into two equal groups of 40 each. Group 1 students (n=40) had a study session followed by a multiple choice question (MCQ) test. This was followed by a podcasting session. Group 2 students had a study session along with an opportunity to listen to a podcast, followed by the test. Following this both groups completed a feedback form intended to assess their perceived utility and attitude towards podcasts. The performance score was analysed using SPSS and an independent sample t test was used to test the significance of differences in the mean score between the two groups. RESULTS: Our analysis revealed a significant difference (p = 0.000) in the mean score between the two groups. Group 1 scored a mean of 7.95 out of 13 and group 2 scored a mean of 6.05 out of 13. Analysis of the feedback forms showed that 91.3 per cent of the students found the podcasts useful, as they could listen to lecture content repeatedly and at their own convenience. Sixty-three per cent of the students, however, felt that the absence of images and diagrams in podcasts was a disadvantage. CONCLUSION: Students benefited when podcasts were used to supplement live lectures and textbook content. This was indicated by better student performance in the podcast group. Also, students showed a favourable attitude for podcasts being used as a supplementary teaching and learning aid.

Introducing physiology practical demonstration in course curriculum for the first year nursing students.

INTRODUCTION: Combination of didactic lecture, practical demonstration and performing experiments by students is followed in medicine, dentistry and bachelor of pharmaceutical sciences. The purpose of this study was to assess the attitudes of nursing students towards practical demonstration in physiology. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy three nursing students of the first year underwent practical demonstration of Physiology experiments. Students indicated their agreement or disagreement with the 8 items by ticking one of the five alternative responses. Mean attitude scores were calculated for each item and for the total scale. RESULTS: The overall mean attitude score of 3.76 was towards the favourable side. Eighty seven percent of students agreed that practical demonstration reinforces concepts. Eighty nine percent of students found practical demonstration is a good form of learning experience. CONCLUSION: The introduction of practical demonstration in addition to didactic lectures may help the students in understanding concepts in Physiology.

Controlled cooling versus rapid freezing of teratozoospermic semen samples: Impact on sperm chromatin integrity.

AIM: The present study evaluates the impact of controlled slow cooling and rapid freezing techniques on the sperm chromatin integrity in teratozoospermic and normozoospermic samples. SETTING: The study was done in a university infertility clinic, which is a tertiary healthcare center serving the general population. DESIGN: It was a prospective study designed in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semen samples from normozoospermic (N=16) and teratozoospermic (N=13) infertile men were cryopreserved using controlled cooling and rapid freezing techniques. The sperm chromatin integrity was analyzed in fresh and frozen-thawed samples. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data were reported as mean and standard error (mean ± SEM) of mean. The difference between two techniques was determined by a paired t-test. RESULTS: The freeze-thaw induced chromatin denaturation was significantly (P<0.01) elevated in the post-thaw samples of normozoospermic and teratozoospermic groups. Compared to rapid freezing, there was no difference in the number of red sperms (with DNA damage) by the controlled slow cooling method in both normozoospermic and teratozoospermic groups. Freeze-thaw induced sperm chromatin denaturation in teratozoospermic samples did not vary between controlled slow cooling and rapid freezing techniques. CONCLUSIONS: Since the controlled slow cooling technique involves the use of expensive instrument and is a time consuming protocol, rapid freezing can be a good alternative technique for teratozoospermic and normozoospermic samples when sperm DNA damage is a concern.