Background
E-learning is an aspect of the practical application of pedagogy. Most students find it an entertaining and effective learning method. Also, case-based learning is related to pedagogy and is an interactive and enjoyable experiment for students. In Syrian medical schools, Gastroenterology teaching is depending on traditional teacher-centered style, passively affecting learning outcomes and imposing the search for other up-to-date alternatives.
The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a case-based, E-Module of gastroenterology in fulfilling desired outcomes, and to evaluate students' satisfaction with the e-learning experiment, their self-confidence improvement, and their perception of the experiment's obstacles.
Methods
13 undergraduate medical students were enrolled. A pretest was conducted, then they participated in 6 synchronous online lectures, and 6 asynchronous lectures which were subjects to the discussion. Students then took a posttest and answered a questionnaire composed of 15 questions measuring their satisfaction with the experiment, self-confidence improvement, and obstacles they faced.
Results
The mean students' degrees in the pretest was 41.5%, while it was 66.8% in the posttest with a statistically significant difference. There was no statistical difference in posttest between students' answers regarding synchronous lectures compared with asynchronous ones. The best results were related to students' perception of self-confidence improvement after the e-learning experiment.
Conclusions
E-learning plays an important role regarding students' level of knowledge improvement. Most of the participants show satisfaction with their knowledge and self-confidence improvement after the E-learning experiment.