UNDERGRADUATE HEALTHCARE STUDENTS’ ATTITUDE TO E-LEARNING AT MEDICAL UNIVERSITY - PLOVDIV

Abstract

E-learning is seen as a possible solution to the problem of modernization of the university education in response to the changing needs of the society. In undergraduate healthcare training, e-learning is implemented predominantly as blended learning in addition to the traditional classroom teaching. A major factor in the success of e-learning are learners’ attitudes, beliefs and concerns. The aim of the present study was to investigate undergraduate healthcare students’ attitude to e-learning at Medical University – Plovdiv. In this case, e-learning is considered to be electronic educational resources organized as an interactive e-learning unit or course, provided through a learning content management system. The survey was carried out in 2016 through a self-reported questionnaire among 270 first year students from ten healthcare specialties. Participants were asked to express a degree of agreement with nine statements on a five point Likert scale. The influence of gender, age, specialty and previous e-learning experience on the opinion of students was investigated. The results showed that students’ attitudes towards e-learning were positive, but learners were not enthusiastic about it. Genders have different views about e-learning implementation – women are more likely to accept it. The experience first year students had did not allow them to judge if e-learning supports better time-management or life-long learning skills. Students agreed that implementation of e-learning depends on the subjects and there are disciplines that can be provided as distant courses within the learning management system.