Short answer
Designers of educational resources and curricula should acknowledge that students' preferred methods for initial learning differ from their revision strategies, and tailor resource integration accordingly.
- Field
- Innovation & Design
- Source
- BMC Medical Education (2019)
- Method
- Online Survey
- Sample
- 350 participants
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
While e-learning tools are widely adopted for revision, traditional methods like note-taking and textbooks remain the primary resources for initial learning among medical students. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2019 study published in BMC Medical Education. Using Online survey with 350 participants, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers of educational resources and curricula should acknowledge that students' preferred methods for initial learning differ from their revision strategies, and tailor resource integration accordingly.
E-learning's Rise: Traditional Resources Still Dominate Initial Learning for Medical Students
While e-learning tools are widely adopted for revision, traditional methods like note-taking and textbooks remain the primary resources for initial learning among medical students.
BMC Medical Education · 2019
Key Findings
- 01Making written notes and reading textbooks were the most frequently utilized resources for learning new material.
- 02Online or downloaded question banks were the most frequently used resource for revision.
- 03The majority of students reported using a variety of e-learning tools, including online teaching videos and question banks.
Application
Design takeaway
Designers of educational resources and curricula should acknowledge that students' preferred methods for initial learning differ from their revision strategies, and tailor resource integration accordingly.
How to apply
When developing or recommending educational tools, consider their suitability for both initial concept acquisition and subsequent revision, and investigate how students are currently using them for each purpose.
Project actions
- 01When researching user preferences for a product, consider different use cases (e.g., initial use vs. ongoing use).
- 02Investigate how users adapt or combine existing resources with new ones in their workflow.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Large sample size from two major universities.
- +Clear distinction between learning new material and revision.
Limitations
The findings might not apply to all fields of study or all age groups. The study relies on self-reported data, which can be inaccurate.
Reliability & validity
The study's reliability is supported by a substantial response rate and clear methodology. Validity is enhanced by distinguishing between two distinct learning contexts (new material vs. revision), providing a nuanced understanding of resource utility.
Think critically
Given the popularity of question banks for revision, how can designers ensure these tools are not only engaging but also pedagogically sound and aligned with broader learning objectives, rather than just test-preparation tools?
Design Principles
"Resource integration should align with the specific learning phase (acquisition vs. reinforcement) to maximize student engagement and efficacy."
Understanding how students engage with different learning resources is crucial for educators and curriculum designers. This insight highlights a gap between the perceived trend towards e-learning and actual learning behaviours, suggesting that a blended approach may be most effective.
What This Means for Your Design
Even though lots of new online learning tools exist, medical students still prefer writing notes and reading books when they first learn something new. They use online quizzes and videos more when they are studying for tests.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this study to justify investigating user resource preferences in your own design project, especially if developing educational tools or services.
- 2.Cite this to support the idea that a blended approach to resource delivery is often necessary.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
Research indicates that user preferences for educational resources can vary significantly depending on the learning stage. For instance, a study in medical education found that while e-learning tools like question banks are highly favoured for revision, traditional methods such as note-taking and textbook reading remain dominant for initial learning (Wynter et al., 2019). This suggests that effective design solutions should consider a blended approach, catering to both the acquisition of new knowledge and the reinforcement of existing concepts.
Source
BMC Medical Education
Medical students: what educational resources are they using?
journal · 2019
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about e-learning's rise: traditional resources still dominate initial learning for medical students?
- Designers of educational resources and curricula should acknowledge that students' preferred methods for initial learning differ from their revision strategies, and tailor resource integration accordingly. Evidence: BMC Medical Education (2019).
- Why does "E-learning's Rise: Traditional Resources Still Dominate Initial Learning for Medical Students" matter for design?
- Understanding how students engage with different learning resources is crucial for educators and curriculum designers. This insight highlights a gap between the perceived trend towards e-learning and actual learning behaviours, suggesting that a blended approach may be most effective.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Designers of educational resources and curricula should acknowledge that students' preferred methods for initial learning differ from their revision strategies, and tailor resource integration accordingly.
- What were the main findings?
- Making written notes and reading textbooks were the most frequently utilized resources for learning new material.. Online or downloaded question banks were the most frequently used resource for revision.. The majority of students reported using a variety of e-learning tools, including online teaching videos and question banks.
- What research method was used?
- Online Survey with 350 participants.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2019 journal from BMC Medical Education.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When developing or recommending educational tools, consider their suitability for both initial concept acquisition and subsequent revision, and investigate how students are currently using them for each purpose.
- What are the limitations?
- The study was conducted at two Australian universities, potentially limiting generalizability to other educational contexts. Self-reported usage may be subject to recall bias.