Enhancing student engagement and learning outcomes through education technologies in medical education

Abstract

Medical education is hastily evolving as motivated by shifting medical and health care settings with a diverse role of physician/instructor, changing medical science in varied pedagogical backgrounds. Educational technologies have been gradually introduced in medical education to facilitate effective learning with student engagement and improved learning outcomes. It has become an indispensable measure of communication, data storage and transformation, audio-visual media usage, production and sharing of medical knowledge. The role of educational technologies has evolved from a mere study tool to an integrated learning approach. The shift in medical care from habitual clinical scenarios to ambulatory settings has obliged the skill to afford care in a short while and necessitates modification in patient documents with added materials on well-being particulars and medical records being modernized. Educational technologies portray a foremost part in student engagement and without which the learning outcomes cannot be expected. A meaningful student engagement involves engaging students in every facet of the educational technology and knowledge acquisition for the purpose of strengthening their commitment to their self-education and community. The right choice of the educational technology for specific educational purposes of interactive learning is challenging and requires studies and reviews. Computer based learning, flipped classroom, mobile devices, smart phones, digital games, simulations, virtual reality, wearable technologies, social media, podcasts, YouTube etc. are of the techniques detailed in this review with regard to the engagement and learning outcomes of students, that addresses the encounters of the fluctuating educational settings in medical profession.