Online anatomy team-based learning using blackboard collaborate platform during COVID-19 pandemic

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Online Learning
• Anatomy Education

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a shift to blended learning systems in educational institutions.
• The Blackboard (Bb) Collaborate platform was adopted for online delivery of educational content.
• Team-based learning (TBL) is a pedagogical approach that can be adapted for online environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of online team-based learning (TBL) sessions using Blackboard (Bb) Collaborate.
• To assess student satisfaction, recall, and engagement with online TBL in various medical programs.
• To determine the suitability of online TBL as an anatomy-learning tool.

Main Methods:

• An online TBL plan was implemented for undergraduate students across different medical programs at Fakeeh College for Medical Sciences (FCMS), KSA.
• Participants included students from MBBS, Nursing (BSN), Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D), and Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS) programs.
• Student feedback was collected via an online survey at the end of each session to measure recall, engagement, and satisfaction.

Main Results:

• All student responses indicated statistically significant positive differences from the neutral midpoint (p < 0.05), reflecting high satisfaction.
• High mean satisfaction scores were reported across all participating programs, with the Pharm D program showing the highest mean response (4.9 ± 0.12).
• Online TBL using Bb Collaborate demonstrated a successful learning experience for anatomy among FCMS students.

Conclusions:

• Online TBL delivered via Bb Collaborate is a successful and satisfactory method for anatomy education in a blended learning environment.
• The platform effectively facilitated online TBL sessions, contributing to positive student experiences and learning outcomes.
• This approach offers a viable alternative for delivering medical education content, particularly during disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic.