Instruction technologies in medical education: integration of e-learning and problem based learning

The aim of this study is to develop E-learning ground which supports problem based learning (PBL) in medical education, to find out if there is any difference in exam scores between web based learning ground module and classical problem based learning module and to determine students? satisfaction with this E-learning practice. For this reason, students were provided with a detailed web learning page including learning targets about the subject of problem based learning, which could be used during independent study period. The study group comprised of all of the first year students (174 students) of Akdeniz University, Medical Faculty, during 2006-2007 education period. No selection was made among the study group. One hundred sixty five of first year students answered the questionnaire (We were able to contact to 94.8 % of the students). By the end of the study, 66 % of the students were satistied with E-learning practice while 15 % were undecisive and 19 % were unsatisfied. The mean exam scores of the fifth PBL module was found significantly higer then those of the first four exams? scores. In conclusion, our studies seem to be satisfied with E-learning activites and their higer exam scores. Keyword: Medical education, E-learning, Problem based learning.