Internet-based versus traditional teaching and learning methods.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Digital Learning
• Information Science

Background:

• The digital age and Web 2.0 have transformed information exchange, impacting traditional educational methods.
• Medical students actively use the internet and social media for learning, necessitating a re-evaluation of current academic practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze medical students' opinions on traditional and digital teaching methods and tools.
• To inform the renovation of medical education by understanding student preferences.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional online survey was conducted using Google Docs.
• The survey collected data on preferred teaching methods, learning tools, websites, and internet devices from medical students.

Main Results:

• Textbooks are still a primary resource, but students find internet websites and multimedia resources valuable.
• Google and Wikipedia were favored over peer-reviewed medical databases among surveyed students.

Conclusions:

• The internet is a significant aid for medical student learning, complementing traditional textbooks.
• Personal computers are the preferred device for internet access, though mobile devices are increasingly used for quick information retrieval.