Google site as a tool for teaching undergraduate students in forensic medicine

Abstract

Background: Today, students are well versed with use of internet and web based teaching can become important source to supplement traditional teaching. Web based teaching via google site can touch deeper aspect of learning by serving as good tool for revision. Objectives: To develop web based teaching module via google site and evaluate students’ performance before and after exposure to web based teaching module along with perceptions of students and faculties on it. Methods: Web based teaching module in Forensic Medicine on one topic of core competency (Mechanical injury) was developed and validated. Module contained lecture notes, photographs, etc. on google sites. Consent form, feedback form and pre-test and post-test Questionnaire (Total 10 multiple choice questions) were formed and validated. All the medical undergraduate students (5th semester) were subjected to pre-test questionnaire, web based teaching module, post-test questionnaire followed by feedback after obtaining their informed written consent via google site. Feedback of faculties were also obtained and analysed. Results: Out of 138 participants, 84 were male and 54 were female. There was no statistically significant difference between perceptions of male and female participants. Comparison of pre and post test scores of students was done using Wilcoxon’s sign rank test. Students scored significantly more in post-test. Both students and faculties gave positive feedback for web based teaching module. Discussion: Classroom traditional teaching is always limited to time, place, person and mood of students while web based teaching via google site can be accessed by students on their own time, ease and pace without any limitation. Higher domain can be explored and in depth teaching is possible via web based teaching. Conclusion: Web based teaching module via google site was found to be very useful to enhance teaching experience of undergraduate students as good tool of revision.