[Evaluation of a user habit-based ophthalmologic e-learning platform].

Abstract

Background: In medical studies digital learning is often achieved by the use of learning management platforms, such as Ilias. Lecture presentations and organizational documents are typical contents. Students use multiple, mostly external learning options for acquisition of knowledge and competences. We present our updated ophthalmology e‑learning environment for medical students and its evaluation.

Objective: Evaluation of an ophthalmology e‑learning platform for medical students, which considers prevalent learning habits.

Material and methods: The platform should provide and link a selection of internal and external learning resources following anatomical structures of the eye. For every subject area the platform provides a text with essential matters, clinical cases, lecture presentations, multiple choice questions for practice, links to corresponding chapters of a textbook and the appropriate AMBOSS learning cards (Amboss GmbH, Berlin, Germany). At the end of the semester an evaluation of the platform was carried out. Different statements were rated by the students on ordinal scales and analyzed.

Results: The platform was rated with 1.47 ± 0.54 (mean ± standard deviation; n = 107) on a German school grade scale (1 = best, 6 = worst). It was perceived as helpful for the individual learning with 1.62 ± 0.77 (1 = very helpful, 7 = not helpful at all). The structuring of the internal and external learning resources was rated as very good 1.44 ± 0.66 (1 = very good, 7 = very bad). The median for subjective amount of usage was 1-5 h (ordinal scale <1, 1-5, 6-10, 15-20, >20 h).

Conclusion: It appears to be meaningful to specifically link external learning resources corresponding to the own curricular structure in order to provide medical students with a modern basis for learning in ophthalmology.