Constructing Quality Feedback to the Students in Distance Learning: Review of the Current Evidence with Reference to the Online Master Degree in Transplantation

Abstract

Introduction: It was a challenge to design a feedback pathway for distance learning course that deals with complexand ambiguous clinical subject like organ transplantation. This course attracts mature clinicians (n=117 spread overthree modules) from 27 countries where in addition to the time and zone barriers; there are cultural, institutionalbackground and also ethnic barriers. In addition to the challenges faced in designing the curriculum and assessmentthat match this diverse group of students, we have to deliver a quality feedback to achieve our leaning objective. Howwould we construct and deliver this feedback to students you have not seen (in a virtual classroom) and may be on adifferent continent of this busy planet?Methods: We analysed the published data on feedback with reflection on the nature of this course and the pedagogyused while considering the diversity of the students joined this courseConclusion: In this distance-learning course constructing a quality feedback to the students is more technicallydemanding compared to a traditional course. Students in distance learning need much more support and feedback thanin a traditional course. There is a potential threat that these students feel isolated in their own online world and may notengage with this virtual educational environment properly.