Virtual workshop on ‘Online Learning and Assessment’ organised by JNMC, Aligarh Muslim University
Aligarh: In view of e-learning swiftly replacing classroom education due to the raging Covid pandemic; experts deliberated course content delivery through various networked platforms and multimedia resources in a three-day virtual workshop on ‘Online Learning and Assessment’ organised by the Medical Education Unit, Faculty of Medicine, J N Medical College (JNMC), Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
The module of the workshop was prepared by National Medical Commission, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
“Dr Shaista Saiyad, Dr Neeraj Mahajan and Dr Saurabh Gandhi from the Nodal Centre NHL, Municipal Medical College, Ahmedabad were the resource persons. JNMC faculty members Dr Shagufta Moin, Dr Saira Mehnaz, Dr Ali Jafar Abedi, Dr Ruhi Khan and Dr Imran were the other expert speakers in the three-day programme,” said Prof Rakesh Bhargava, Dean Faculty of Medicine and Officer In-charge, Medical Education Unit.
In the inaugural session, Prof Rakesh Bhargava spoke on the benefits of e-learning and assessment and how higher student achievements and promising staff perceptions with improvement in technological skills can be attained.
He added that the new MBBS Curriculum has a lot of emphasis on self directed and online learning aimed to better prepare doctors for challenges posed by pandemics.
“Like other areas of study, Covid-19 has dramatically changed the medical education environment with the distinctive rise of e-learning, whereby teaching is undertaken remotely and on digital platforms,” said Prof Rakesh.
He pointed out that the application of online education in medical studies is a new phenomenon in India.
“The use of technology, spatial distance between teachers and students, and learner isolation stand out as a prominent difference between online learning and class-room education; but the educational cycle, the learning process, interactivity, integration, assessment and feedback remain the same in both formats,” said Prof Rakesh.
Prof Seema Hakim, Coordinator, Medical Education Unit elaborated that the coronavirus spread forced centres of higher learning to use innovative strategies to ensure continuity of education and now this model of education is emerging with significant benefits.
“The integration of information technology in education will be accelerated and that online education will eventually become an integral component of education,” Prof S Manazir Ali, Coordinator, Medical Education Unit, while speaking on the need of workshops on online education and learning.