Blended and e-learning in pediatric education: harnessing lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Face-to-face education as the traditional basis for medical education was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic as learners and educators were moved online with little time for preparation. Fortunately, as online learning has grown, together with medical education shifting to problem-based and team-centered learning over the last three decades, existing resources have been adapted and improved upon to meet the challenges. Effective blended learning has resulted in innovative synchronous and asynchronous learning platforms. Clearly, to do this well requires time, effort, and adjustment from clinicians, educators, and learners, but it should result in an engaging change in teaching practice. Its success will rely on an evaluation of learning outcomes, educator and learner satisfaction, and long-term retention of knowledge. It will be important to maintain ongoing assessment of all aspects of the medical education process, including how to best teach and assess theory, physiology, pathology, history-taking, physical examination, and clinical management. Conclusion : The COVID-19 pandemic triggered emergency transitional processes for teaching and assessment in medical education which built upon existing innovations in teaching medicine with the use of technology. These strategies will continue to evolve so as to provide the basis for an enduring hybrid teaching model involving blended and e-learning in medical education.. What is Known: • Most pediatricians provide clinical teaching to medical students and residents, but few have had formal training in online educational approaches and techniques. • Being able to adapt to new and innovative integrated teaching methods is of key importance when becoming a competent teacher. What is New: • This review presents an up-to-date summary of best practice in blended and e-learning and how it may be optimally delivered. • Knowledge of the principles of e-learning, and how people learn more generally, helps pediatricians shape their clinical teaching and facilitates better interaction with medical students and residents.

Pediatric Training Crisis of Emergency Medicine Residency during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…It could be easily utilized for viewing educational videos of common pediatric disease like bronchiolitis, croup and asthma which incorporate presenting features, pathology, diagnosis, and management [ 35 ]. Although online learning could not completely replace hands-on training and clinical exposure, it was indicated to be an effective tool with a high degree of learner satisfaction [ 36 , 37 ]. High-fidelity simulation is another option to enhance clinical competency [ 38 , 39 , 40 ].…”

Patient and public involvement in paediatric medical education

“…With greater emphasis being placed on online learning as a response to COVID-19, online resources have been developed and adapted alongside traditional face-to-face teaching approaches, to optimise the student learning experience 21. It seems likely that this blended approach will continue to develop with the evolution of innovative methods to enhance both education and research 22…”

E-learning and its impact on health sciences education as a consequence of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Literature review

“…The medical education community joined together to address the need to sustain medical education and learner assessment by preserving teaching and developing emergency teaching (Fitzgerald et al, 2022).…”

“…Health practitioners faced a new difficulty as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to the effects on people's health: the shift from traditional classroom learning to online learning (Fitzgerald et al, 2022). Virtual education, which played a major role during the COVID-19 epidemic when institutions were forced to make drastic adjustments to the educational system, is one of the ways that education has evolved in recent years.…”