Medical student use of an online formative assessment resource

Abstract

With the rising use of elearning in higher education, an ever-increasing amount of research has been conducted into its educational value. However, such research has been found to focus on academic staff perspectives and course design, rather than student perceptions. When developing elearning resources, staff need to understand not only their academic value, but also how students use and experience elearning. This paper reports on a recent research project that evaluated medical student use and experience of an elearning formative assessment resource that was redesigned to enhance interactivity and feedback. The aim of redevelopment was to help students assimilate and build on their knowledge of paediatric asthma management and begin to apply this knowledge in a clinical context. This study investigated how students used the resource, their evaluation of its effectiveness, including the role of learning for professional competence versus preparation for assessment, and their recommendations for improvement. This research will inform the redevelopment of the resource and the design of future elearning resources.