Journal List > Kosin Med J > v.31(2) > 1057066

Hwang: A Computer-Assisted, Real-Time Feedback System for Medical Students as a Tool for Web-Based Learning

Abstract

Objectives

Medical students sometimes do not receive proper feedback from their instructors. This study evaluated a newly developed automated and personalized real-time feedback system intended to address this issue.

Methods

Third- and fourth-year medical students participated in quizzes focusing on 17 learning objectives and a five-scale survey that queried their prior knowledge related to blood transfusions. Immediately after completing the quizzes, the students received automated and personalized, real-time feedback and were instructed to take part in self-directed learning. This activity was followed by a final quiz. After completion of the final quiz, the students responded to the five-scale survey that probed the usefulness of and satisfaction with the automated, personalized, real-time feedback system.

Results

Eighty students took part in this study. The third-year group had a higher score for prior knowledge and also on the first quiz (P= 0.008, P= 0.046, respectively). There was no significant difference in final quiz scores between the third- and fourth-year groups (P= 0.633). The scores for usefulness of and satisfaction with the automated, real-time feedback system were 4.45 and 4.34, and 4.55 and 4.40 in the third- and fourth-year students, respectively.

Conclusions

The automated, personalized, real-time feedback system provided timely and effective feedback for medical students and was helpful for their self-directed learning.

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Fig. 1.
The quiz, feedback, and final exam provided to the students in this study. The quiz, feedback, and final exam were hosted on the website, which was developed by the author on the Moodle platform. When students clicked on the quiz question number (A), the quiz question appeared on the screen (B). After completing the quizzes, the students could view feedback that varied depending on quiz score (C), view the activated feedback, and perform self-directed learning guided by the feedback (D). After completion of the self-directed learning, students were permitted to take the final exam.
kmj-31-134f1.tif
Fig. 2.
Subjective opinions from students about the merits and drawbacks of the automated, real-time feedback system. Some highly ranked opinions are listed, and more opinions are included in the “Other” category.
kmj-31-134f2.tif
Table 1.
Mean, standard deviation (SD), and t-test results of third- and fourth-year medical students on a survey of prior knowledge, usefulness, and satisfaction conducted using Moodle
Test items Grade N Mean SD P
Survey of prior knowledge 3 4 40 40 3.35 3.82 0.85 0.67 0.008
  3 40 4.55 0.46  
Usefulness survey 4 40 4.40 0.58 0.190
Survey of satisfaction 3 4 40 40 4.45 4.34 0.64 0.67 0.480

N, number; SD, standard deviation; P, p-value in t-test

Table 2.
Scores between third-year and fourth-year medical students
Category Mean (SD) T-test
Third year (n=40) Fourth year (n=40)
Quiz 85.57 (10.26) 89.66 (7.51) P = 0.046
Final quiz 96.02 (4.56) 95.53 (4.74) P = 0.633
Table 3.
The degrees of satisfaction with and usefulness of a computer-assisted, automated, real-time feedback system amongst medical students
Category Questions Min Max M SD
Degree of Satisfaction I was pleased with the Blood Transfusion class. 1 5 4.29 0.81
  Quizzes used in the Blood Transfusion class were helpful for learning about blood transfusions. 2 5 4.55 0.61
  The feedback used in the Blood Transfusion class 3 5 4.46 0.64
  was helpful for studying blood transfusions. It was easy to follow the feedback presented. 2 5 4.31 0.88
  The content of the quizzes and the feedback were related to what is necessary for studying blood transfusions. 2 5 4.41 0.79
  As a whole, I am satisfied with this Blood Transfusion class that was supported by a computer-assisted feedback system. 1 5 4.34 0.91
Usefulness The quizzes provided on the homepage were helpful for learning about blood transfusions. 3 5 4.58 0.61
  The content of the quizzes was related to what was taught during the Blood Transfusion class. 3 5 4.70 0.54
  The content of the feedback adequately pointed out what I need to know. 3 5 4.36 0.66
  The content of the feedback was helpful to me when I took the final exam. 2 5 4.40 0.74
  The spontaneous feedback after the quiz was helpful. 2 5 4.58 0.69
  It was easy to read and comprehend the feedback. 1 5 4.34 0.86
  The computer-assisted feedback system was helpful for studying about blood transfusions. 1 5 4.39 0.83

Min, minimum; Max, maximum; M, mean; SD, standard deviation.

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