Evaluating statistical and informatics competencies in medical students in a blended learning course

Abstract

The paper reports on a case study aimed at investigating the use of technology in high-school in the subjects of informatics and statistics, as well as if the blended learning approach used in the same subjects - taught at the university level - was useful to introduce the students into scientific research. To this aim, a self-reported questionnaire was used, at the beginning and at the end of the courses of informatics and statistics. The results show limited use of technology in high school, at least on these subjects (15%), unless for spreadsheets (24%) and central tendency indicators (26%). Furthermore, the students reported that increased their ability to read scientific papers. As for the final outcomes, the students have small failing rates (3% and 9% for statistics and informatics, respectively) which are in-line with the self-reported knowledge on the subjects.