Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2026
Bridging the Technology Divide in the COVID-19 Era: Using Virtual Outreach to Expose Middle and High School Students to Imaging Technology
Published on: September 28, 2022
Students' perceptions of a multimedia computer-aided instruction resource in histology
Objective:
To develop an interactive multimedia-based computer-aided instruction (CAI) programme, to determine its educational worth and efficacy in a multicultural academic environment and to evaluate its usage by students with differing levels of computer literacy.
Design:
A prospective descriptive study evaluating pre- and post-module testing, student usage tracking and a questionnaire survey.
Setting:
University of Natal Medical School.
Participants:
Thirty-four volunteers from the class of 125 second-year M.B. Ch.B. students who participated in the CAI study; 13 of these were not computer-literate.
Intervention:
The study group used the CAI module for 2 weeks as part of the course.
Main Outcome Measures:
Post-test scoring and evaluation of questionnaire responses.
Results:
Results of pre- and post-tests show that CAI users' scores were slightly lower on pre-testing (22.1% v. 23.2%), while their post-test scores were higher (65.6% v. 60.7%). Lack of computer literacy did not restrict or hinder students in their use of the programme. Responses to a questionnaire completed by all CAI users indicate consensus that the programme helped the students to learn (94%), that it provided important basic knowledge (88%) and that it was a helpful learning experience (88%). All but 1 student wished to have more programmes like this available in histology.
Conclusions:
The CAI programme reduced the time spent by students in the histology microscopy laboratory and did not negatively affect their marks in post-course evaluation. The concept of multimedia-based CAI in medical education was positively received by the students who participated.
