Effectiveness of module- based WhatsApp group discussion in Anatomy supplemental to traditional classroom teaching

Abstract

Background: Now, when the Medical Council of India is stressing upon the Self-Directed Learning (SDL); and the UG medical curriculum is shifting towards the Competency based medical education; this study has been conducted to observe the acceptability and the academic utility of the SDL by making WhatsApp- group, in Anatomy learning of the students. Aim & Objective: To implement the WhatsApp Group Discussion (WGD) sessions in SDL in Anatomy and to assess its effectiveness in academic performance of students. Methodology: In parallel to traditional classroom teaching, in a three-month’s span module-based discussion was carried on in WhatsApp group framed with all the 199 students. After the formative assessment (FA), students’ feedbacks were obtained for acceptability of the WhatsApp based discussion and their achieved marks were compared to the previous result to assess the utility of such. Result: [A] Majority of the students have replied that it helped them to (1) clear doubts, (2) get in touch with peers as well as the facilitators, (3) study at their own place, at own time, (4) participate in the group discussion, even when they stayed apart. (5) It provoked them to find the internet to solve the answers of the questions. [B] Overall less students failed in examination held afterwards than the previous exam. Students who have participated more actively in the WhatsApp session, had better differential score. Conclusion: Self-directed learning, peer assisted group discussion perceived as the positive attributes for the WhatsApp based group discussion. It opened the avenue for 24x7 academic utility of social media.

Keywords

• anatomy teaching
• module based teaching
• self directed learning