Digital learning: WhatsApp as a teaching aid in oral pathology for undergraduates
Background: Influence of social media such as WhatsApp is tremendously increased among students. The query aroused was whether such a familiar platform could be used as a learning tool. Objectives: The purpose of the study was to assess the effectiveness of WhatsApp as an educational tool in a compl...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2018-01-01
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| Series: | Indian Journal of Dental Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ijds.in/article.asp?issn=0976-4003;year=2018;volume=10;issue=3;spage=160;epage=163;aulast=Indu |
| _version_ | 1818276837954945024 |
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| author | M Indu Shalu Kandhol Latha Mary Cherian |
| author_facet | M Indu Shalu Kandhol Latha Mary Cherian |
| author_sort | M Indu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Influence of social media such as WhatsApp is tremendously increased among students. The query aroused was whether such a familiar platform could be used as a learning tool. Objectives: The purpose of the study was to assess the effectiveness of WhatsApp as an educational tool in a complex subject such as oral pathology among undergraduate students. Methods: Third-year students of Government Dental College, Alappuzha, were selected as the study population and were divided into Group A and Group B by a simple random sampling. Histopathology slides were discussed conventionally with both Group A and Group B. Furthermore, labeled histopathological images were discussed only for Group A students, in a WhatsApp group named “GDC ALLEPPEY OPATH.” To assess the effectiveness of a new method, a questionnaire was given to both groups and the results were statistically analyzed using Mann–Whitney U-test. An additional opinion poll was carried out with Group A to identify students' perspective toward the novel learning tool. Results: Pair-wise comparison of the mean scores of Group A and Group B showed a statistically significant higher mean score for Group A (P = 0.005). There was a significant improvement in the mean score of Group A in their ability to comprehend individual histopathologic features compared to that of Group B (P = 0.008). Conclusion: WhatsApp can prove to be highly advantageous and enhance learning in undergraduate students when used in supplementation to the conventional learning methods. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T22:52:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0c254930aa2940d5a8ddf98a222b0587 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0976-4003 2231-2293 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T22:52:00Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Indian Journal of Dental Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-0c254930aa2940d5a8ddf98a222b05872022-12-22T00:09:03ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Dental Sciences0976-40032231-22932018-01-0110316016310.4103/IJDS.IJDS_48_18Digital learning: WhatsApp as a teaching aid in oral pathology for undergraduatesM InduShalu KandholLatha Mary CherianBackground: Influence of social media such as WhatsApp is tremendously increased among students. The query aroused was whether such a familiar platform could be used as a learning tool. Objectives: The purpose of the study was to assess the effectiveness of WhatsApp as an educational tool in a complex subject such as oral pathology among undergraduate students. Methods: Third-year students of Government Dental College, Alappuzha, were selected as the study population and were divided into Group A and Group B by a simple random sampling. Histopathology slides were discussed conventionally with both Group A and Group B. Furthermore, labeled histopathological images were discussed only for Group A students, in a WhatsApp group named “GDC ALLEPPEY OPATH.” To assess the effectiveness of a new method, a questionnaire was given to both groups and the results were statistically analyzed using Mann–Whitney U-test. An additional opinion poll was carried out with Group A to identify students' perspective toward the novel learning tool. Results: Pair-wise comparison of the mean scores of Group A and Group B showed a statistically significant higher mean score for Group A (P = 0.005). There was a significant improvement in the mean score of Group A in their ability to comprehend individual histopathologic features compared to that of Group B (P = 0.008). Conclusion: WhatsApp can prove to be highly advantageous and enhance learning in undergraduate students when used in supplementation to the conventional learning methods.http://www.ijds.in/article.asp?issn=0976-4003;year=2018;volume=10;issue=3;spage=160;epage=163;aulast=InduLearningMedical educationoral pathologysocial mediaWhatsApp |
| spellingShingle | M Indu Shalu Kandhol Latha Mary Cherian Digital learning: WhatsApp as a teaching aid in oral pathology for undergraduates Indian Journal of Dental Sciences Learning Medical education oral pathology social media |
| title | Digital learning: WhatsApp as a teaching aid in oral pathology for undergraduates |
| title_full | Digital learning: WhatsApp as a teaching aid in oral pathology for undergraduates |
| title_fullStr | Digital learning: WhatsApp as a teaching aid in oral pathology for undergraduates |
| title_full_unstemmed | Digital learning: WhatsApp as a teaching aid in oral pathology for undergraduates |
| title_short | Digital learning: WhatsApp as a teaching aid in oral pathology for undergraduates |
| title_sort | digital learning whatsapp as a teaching aid in oral pathology for undergraduates |
| topic | Learning Medical education oral pathology social media |
| url | http://www.ijds.in/article.asp?issn=0976-4003;year=2018;volume=10;issue=3;spage=160;epage=163;aulast=Indu |
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