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The interrupted learner: How distractions during live and video lectures influence learning outcomes
Andrew H Zureick1, Jesse Burk-Rafel1,2, Joel A Purkiss3,4,5
1University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Anatomical Sciences Education
|November 28, 2017
Summary
Consistent attendance of live lectures or video recordings improves medical histology scores. Distractions during study, like social media or sleepiness, negatively impact learning outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Anatomy Education
- Learning Technologies
Background:
- Medical schools increasingly use instructional technologies, including recorded lectures, impacting student academic success.
- Previous studies show mixed results on the academic impact of lecture recordings versus live attendance.
- A prior study linked live histology lecture attendance to success and video use to poorer outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the detailed relationship between histology learning outcomes and student study behaviors.
- To analyze the impact of lecture attendance versus video usage on first-year medical students' academic performance.
- To identify specific study behaviors that correlate with histology learning success or failure.
Main Methods:
- Surveyed three cohorts of first-year medical students (N=439, 86.6% response rate) on lecture attendance and video usage.
- Collected data on specific study behaviors influencing histology learning outcomes.
- Correlated reported study habits and lecture engagement strategies with histology scores.
Main Results:
- Students consistently attending live lectures or watching videos achieved higher histology scores than those using mixed strategies.
- Engaging in non-lecture activities (e.g., social media), experiencing interruptions, or feeling sleepy during lectures correlated with lower scores.
- Consistent engagement, whether live or recorded, was associated with better academic performance.
Conclusions:
- Consistent attendance, whether live or via recordings, is linked to improved histology performance.
- Interruptions and distractions during learning activities significantly impair medical student outcomes.
- Minimizing distractions during both live and recorded lectures is crucial for optimizing learning in medical education.
Keywords:
e-learninghistology educationinterruptionslecture attendancelecture videosmedical educationself-directed learningstudy behaviorstechnologyundergraduate educationMore Related Videos
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