Study Perception of First-Year Medical Students on the Use of WhatsApp as a Supplementary Learning Tool

Abstract

Aim & objectives: There is a growing use of WhatsApp as a communication platform between students and also between students and faculties. The present study was conducted to find out the perceptions of first year medical students on the effectiveness of WhatsApp as a teaching learning tool as a supplement to the traditional teaching Materials & Methods: The study was conducted in a Private Medical College in Chennai, Tamilnadu. The participants of the study were 150 medical students (n=150) of first year of class 2017 -18 batch. A separate WhatsApp group named “Anatomy Department Official Group” was created. The group was utilized for sharing teaching learning materials such as power points of lectures on Gross Anatomy and Histology, notes on various topics, Histology slides photomicrograph, Spotters containing  images of Gross specimens with questions and also for discussion on various topics. Results: In our study 98% of students have agreed or strongly agreed that learning material shared through WhatsApp was easily available and downloadable. It also has helped them learn anytime anywhere and 82% of students felt that their confidence level in learning Anatomy has increase due to the learning materials shared through WhatsApp. Conclusion: Owing to the advantages offered by using WhatsApp as a teaching and learning tool for First year Medical students, as perceived by students the author concludes that WhatsApp groups can be used as a supplementary teaching tool in addition to Traditional teaching methods.