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Virtual seminars for medical nutrition education: case example
K M Kolasa1, J E Daugherty, A C Jobe
1Department of Family Medicine, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858-4354, USA. kolasaka@mail.ecu.edu
Summary
Web-based nutrition education using virtual seminars enhanced medical student engagement. However, evaluating online learning effectiveness through surveys presented challenges, with a low return rate despite high participation.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Nutritional Science
- E-Learning
Background:
- Nutrition educators are increasingly adopting web-based strategies for course delivery.
- There is a need for effective online nutrition education models, especially for medical students applying knowledge to patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the implementation of a "virtual seminar" using computer-mediated communication for medical students.
- To evaluate student participation and the effectiveness of an online nutrition learning module within a clinical skills course.
Main Methods:
- Integration of a "virtual seminar" into an existing traditional clinical skills course.
- Utilizing computer-mediated communication for interaction between medical students and experts.
- Development of methods for evaluating online participation and effectiveness.
Main Results:
- Medical student activity within the virtual seminar exceeded expectations.
- The return rate for the online evaluation survey was lower than anticipated, indicating challenges in data collection.
Conclusions:
- Web-based learning, such as virtual seminars, can foster significant student engagement in nutrition education.
- Developing effective and efficient methods for evaluating online learning participation and outcomes remains a critical challenge.