Methods and frequency of sharing of learning resources by medical students

Abstract

AbstractUniversity students have ready access to quality learning resources through learning management systems (LMS), online library collections and generic search tools. However, anecdotal evidence suggests they sometimes turn to peer‐based sharing rather than sourcing resources directly. We know little about this practice—how common it is, what sort of resources are involved and what impact it is likely to have on students' learning. This paper reports on an exploratory investigation of students' resource sharing habits, involving 338 respondents from the first 3 years of a 4‐year postgraduate medical curriculum. On average, students reported sharing learning resources with other students two or more times per week. They were most likely to share non‐curriculum resources (not available through their LMS) although curriculum and physical resources (eg, printed or handwritten notes and textbooks) were also often shared. Students employed a range of sharing technologies including email (most frequent), social media tools and cloud‐based file services. A cluster analysis revealed four distinct groups of students based on the frequency with which they share, the range of technologies they employ and whether they share both online and physical resources.