Distance learning and its relation to medical education in the present times

Abstract

This scientific text addresses the evolution of distance education, highlighting the crucial role of information and communication technologies (ICT) in virtual education. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the transition to distance education, especially in Latin America, although challenges are faced due to the lack of infrastructure and Internet access in remote areas. The text introduces key concepts such as distance and virtual education, as well as ICTs. It explores pedagogical theories, such as cyberculture and connectivism, that support online teaching. Connectivism is highlighted as a theory that emphasizes the importance of connections and learning in changing and uncontrolled environments. Suggestions for applying connectivism in medical education are provided, including the use of blogs, social networking, and the creation of online communities. The text also emphasizes the need to constantly adapt teaching strategies to keep up with advances in the field of medicine and health sciences. Several tools applied to virtual teaching are described, such as the Zoom and Google Meet videoconferencing platforms, as well as the Moodle and Google Classroom learning platforms. In addition, design and gamification tools are mentioned, along with the importance of clouds for online storage and collaboration.