The effect of whatsapp messenger as e- learning tool on performance of undergraduate students of a Public Sector Medical College in Pakistan.

Authors

  • Nauman Aziz Sahiwal Medical College Sahiwal
  • Zahid Kamal Sahiwal Medical College Sahiwal, Pakistan.
  • Ahmad Zeeshan Jamil Sahiwal Medical College Sahiwal, Pakistan.
  • Muhammad Waseem Sahiwal Medical College Sahiwal, Pakistan.
  • Raees Abbas Lail Sahiwal Medical College Sahiwal, Pakistan.
  • Muhammad Junaid Iqbal Sahiwal Medical College Sahiwal, Pakistan.
  • Nauman Aziz Sahiwal Medical College Sahiwal, Pakistan.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29309/TPMJ/2021.28.01.4772

Keywords:

Learning Process, Learning Activity, Whatsapp, e- Learning

Abstract

Objectives: To verify the usability of social media like WhatsApp in delivering knowledge to 4th year and Final year MBBS students and to compare the improvement of knowledge gain through e-learning and didactic lecture. Concurrently, perception of students about e-learning via WhatsApp will also be gathered. Study Design: Prospective Analytical Interventional study. Setting: Department of Medical Education of Sahiwal Medical College Sahiwal. Period: 01.01.2020 to 31.03.2020. Material & Methods: On 4th year and Final year MBBS students two Whatsapp group were made, one for each class. Then the students were taught different topics by WhatsApp. Assessment of knowledge of e-learning through WhatsApp was done by feedback form. Results: The results revealed that technical, educational and instructional advantages of teaching learning activity via WhatsApp out pars disadvantages. Increase in interaction with peers and getting a fair chance to participate in group discussion were top two educational benefits of learning through WhatsApp with 64.10% and 62.80% students agreeing to it. A majority of the students (89.8%) agreed to the facts that the availability of smart phones was not an issue for them and they are very comfortable in using Whatsapp as e learning tool (61.6%). on the other hand 29.5 % of the students were disagreed with the fact that they are getting more chances in clearing their concepts on Whatsapp. Conclusion: Increase in interaction with the peers and getting more chance to discuss a particular topic with group has made WhatsApp a new and convenient tool for teaching/learning activity. Students also found Whatsapp as less time consuming as compared to conventional lectures. A few disadvantages, like lesser chance of clearing the concepts on Whatsapp can be overruled by making small groups and using mobiles with bigger screen.

Author Biographies

Zahid Kamal, Sahiwal Medical College Sahiwal, Pakistan.

MBBS, FCPS, FRCS

Professor and Principal Ophthalmology

Ahmad Zeeshan Jamil, Sahiwal Medical College Sahiwal, Pakistan.

MBBS, FCPS

Director Medical Education and

Associate Professor Ophthalmology

Muhammad Waseem, Sahiwal Medical College Sahiwal, Pakistan.

MBBS, FCPS

Deputy Director Medical Education and

Assistant Professor Pulmonology

 

Raees Abbas Lail, Sahiwal Medical College Sahiwal, Pakistan.

MBBS, M.Phil

Associate Professor and Head Pathology

 

Muhammad Junaid Iqbal, Sahiwal Medical College Sahiwal, Pakistan.

MBBS

Assistant Director of Medical Education

Nauman Aziz, Sahiwal Medical College Sahiwal, Pakistan.

MBBS, M.Phil

Assistant Professor Physiology

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Published

2021-01-10