A comparative study of textbook learning and online learning among undergraduate medical students

Previously textbooks used to be the main source of information. Nowadays, learning has become easier with the use of internet. One needn't to go to the library to find text books ever since the advent of the internet. Hence this study was conducted to compare the effects of text book and online learning on academic performance of medical students. Data was collected by administering a 14-item validated Questionnaire to MBBS students. 58% of students preferred textbook learning over internet learning. Among the students who used text books, 73% students memorized and 27% understood the topic. However, among students who used internet, 57% students understood and 43% memorized the topic. Based on block examination results, students who scored 60% - 80% agreed that text book learning is better, while students who scored above 80%, opined that internet is also useful for better learning. From this study it is clear that students use the internet for self-directed learning to different extents based on their scholastic abilities. This trend should be encouraged, though it may require that teachers guide the students in selecting the references from the vast ocean of knowledge available on the net.