The Role of Blended Learning in 21st Century Medical Education

Abstract

The teaching of medical students is of paramount importance for society as the goal is to have well-educated and competent physicians that can help address the healthcare issues facing today’s society. The pedagogical influences that drive medical education have seen many advances in the past 30 years, but one that is seen as a leader for the future is the use of blended learning. This chapter will highlight that blended learning in medicine allows learners to be flexible in their education, as they are not constrained by time or distance as they move towards developing core competencies needed for their chosen discipline. One of the key drivers of this momentum in medicine is technology, and blended learning is one of the leading pedagogical influences in medical education for the future.