Using blended learning for collaborative learning in herbal medicine

Abstract

The objectives of this research are to apply and evaluate the KUIHerbRx2016, a blended learning tool for collaborative learning in herbal medicine. The 167 third year pharmacy students were assigned to contribute their opinions in topics of local names in several languages, indications, precaution/ toxicity, additional information, images of herbs, products, and links to herbs. Opinions provided to the KUIHerbRx2016 should be evidence-based information and avoid copyright violations. Three domains of learning were evaluated. For cognitive skills, students can collaborative work and contribute knowledge on all topics. However, the average percentage of opinions with references on three topics, i.e., indications, precaution/toxicity, and additional information was 63.89. From the results, students could provide adequate information to the system. However, the number of opinions with references and citations for opinions should be improved. For responsibility, students could do their assignment completely in terms of the number of herbs, topics of herbal information and time used. They expressed their information technology skills to search herbal information, put opinions into the tool, and share information among students.