No More Live Lectures - Quixotism or Realism-? Association between Learning Preferences and Attendances at Live Lectures
Siaw-Cheok Liew *
Department of Clinical Competence, Perdana University-Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Jagmohni Sidhu
Clinical Skills and Simulation Centre, Department of Family Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Ankur Barua
Department of Community Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: The increasing decline in medical students’ attendances at live lectures left educators with differing views on its acceptability.
Aim: The aim of this study was to look at the association between the medical students’ attendances at live lectures and their learning preferences and outcomes.
Study Design: University based, cross sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at International Medical University, Malaysia from April to July 2015.
Methodology: All the pre-clinical medical students (Year 2 and Year 3) were invited to participate in this study. A total of 776 students, Year 2 (397) and Year 3 (379) students participated in this study. The students’ recorded attendances at live lectures were compared to their (i) learning preferences; VARK (Visual/Aural/ReadWrite/Kinesthetic) and ASSIST (Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students) and to their (ii) performances at the summative examinations. Data was analysed using Pearson Chi-square test.
Results: A majority of medical students (54.8%) still attend live lectures. The attenders were mostly auditory (p=0.010) learners. Non-attenders at live lectures perform better in the examination compared to the attenders (p=0.003). Those who used online lectures as their aid to studying performed better in the examination (p=0.026).
Conclusions: Medical students still attend live lectures regularly. However, high performances at summative examination was associated with non-attendances at live lectures and the use of online learning/online lectures.
Keywords: Lectures, medical students, VARK, ASSIST, examination performance.