Use of mobile learning by first year undergraduate students in a medical college in India

Abstract

Mobile handsets are emerging as technology enhanced learning media in medical education. However not much research has been undertaken to explore usefulness of mobile learning among students. This study assessed the perception of first year undergraduate medical students, who are undergoing training in preclinical subjects, towards the application and effectiveness of mobile learning in medical education curriculum. A self-designed, pre-tested questionnaire was framed to explore the outlook towards mobile devices as a learning medium and the questionnaire was administered among 100 first year undergraduate medical students; summative assessment and their responses were collected and analyzed. The completed questionnaire was returned by 98 students after documenting their responses. It was observed that 85.7% respondents had access to smart phones and mobile handset was the preferred learning medium for 49% students. The students had a multifaceted outlook with regards to advantages of mobile learning and in their opinion, it supported a diverse bouquet of learning components. Moreover 44.9% and 25.5% students rated mobile device as an effective and very effective learning medium respectively. A majority (70.4%) of the students admitted that they would continue with mobile learning in future and 73.5% students opined that they would actually recommend their juniors to utilize their mobile devices as a learning medium. First year undergraduate medical students are using their mobile devices as an effective learning medium. Mobile devices have the potential to converge as a one-stop medium that could cater to learning needs of a divergent population of medical students.