A Moodle-based blended learning solution for physiology education in Montenegro: a case study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Physiology
• Educational Technology

Background:

• Traditional lecture-based learning is standard in medical physiology education.
• The integration of e-learning platforms offers potential benefits for student engagement and performance.
• Assessing the impact of blended learning models is crucial for optimizing medical curricula.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of web-based blended learning on student achievement in a physiology course.
• To gauge student satisfaction with the Moodle e-learning platform.
• To compare academic outcomes before and after Moodle implementation.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of formative and summative assessment scores between pre- and post-Moodle implementation groups.
• Analysis of the correlation between Moodle usage frequency and academic performance.
• Student satisfaction survey to assess user experience with the Moodle platform.

Main Results:

• Blended learning, incorporating the Moodle platform, enhanced student interest and attendance in face-to-face lectures.
• Both formative and summative assessment scores improved following Moodle integration.
• High Moodle usage did not consistently correlate with higher academic achievement, indicating broad acceptance across student levels.
• Students found Moodle easy to use and complementary to traditional teaching, but not a complete substitute.

Conclusions:

• Web-based blended learning, exemplified by Moodle, effectively supports physiology education.
• The blended learning model positively influences student engagement and academic outcomes in medical physiology.
• Continued integration of blended learning is recommended for physiology and other medical courses.