A COMPARISON OF COMPUTER ASSISTED LEARNING AND CONVENTIONAL TEACHING METHOD IN EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY- A QUESTIONNAIRE BASED STUDY

Abstract

Background: Computer Assisted Learning (CAL) for teaching experimental pharmacology is now widely accepted as
alternative to animal experiments. The present study was to compare the computer assisted learning and conventional
method that is lecture followed by demonstration on the same topic of experimental pharmacology.
Methods: This was a questionnaire based observational study involving 100 second year MBBS students. The students were taught experimental
pharmacology practical by both conventional methods (lecture with discussion) and computer assisted learning (CAL). Questionnaire and their
filled responses by these students were taken after the CAL experiments , covering the same topics of experimental pharmacology. .
Results: Majority of the students(72%) accepted computer simulation technique gives a better understanding of the topic than traditional method
of teaching and 88 % of students accepted that effects of drugs can be clearly visualized by computer simulation. And majority of the
students(85%) accepted CAL as a teaching method
Conclusions: Thus, to conclude, the use of CAL as an alternative to experimental pharmacology is an attractive area among undergraduate
students in practical teaching. It is also a pleasant shift for the students.