Structured academic discussions through an online education-specific platform to improve Pharm.D. students learning...

Area of Science:

• Pharmacotherapy education
• Educational technology

Background:

• Traditional academic discussions can be stressful for students.
• Online platforms offer a less stressful environment for interaction.
• Enhancing student engagement is crucial for improving course outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of an online, education-centered platform for facilitating academic discussions.
• To improve overall course outcomes through active learning and concept reinforcement.
• To evaluate the impact of online discussions on student engagement and performance.

Main Methods:

• A third-year integrated pharmacotherapy course utilized the online platform Piazza®.
• Students engaged in asking, answering, and collaboratively building on content.
• Instructors posted learning objectives, endorsed student responses, and led discussions.
• Pre-exam review sessions were conducted on the platform.
• Student performance was compared to previous cohorts using a t-test.

Main Results:

• Most students appreciated the less stressful online interaction.
• 83 posts and 303 contributions occurred over 15 course hours.
• 94% of questions received student responses, with 89% endorsed by the instructor.
• Students enjoyed pre-exam discussions and content reinforcement.
• The platform fostered personal exploration, leading to better examination performance.

Conclusions:

• Online platforms effectively increase class engagement with course material.
• Student performance significantly improved with active learning compared to traditional methods (p=0.001 and p=0.002).
• Piazza® is a versatile tool applicable across various courses and disciplines.