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Online classes: how learning disrupts the technical skills of medical laboratory students

research
  • 23 Oct
  • 2020

Medical laboratory technology focuses on a great deal of practical and technical knowledge acquired from the course curriculum. It covers the required training for students to perform discrete kinds of tests and to diagnose the obtained results. The successful completion of the course demands the fundamental idea in topics like biochemistry, biotechnology, microbiology, pharmacology and so on. It is well organised to produce enthusiastic students who wish to prosper in the field of lab settings and as medical technicians. A lab technician should collect the urine, blood, sputum as samples for further diagnosis of illness.

​The traditional method of laboratory learning has always been conducted in the laboratory itself. It was guided by professors or academic experts in a lab atmosphere. They teach the functioning and maintenance of the lab equipment by face to face interaction. But amidst these hard times of epidemic, the students are not allowed to access the college medical laboratory to keep on with their practical training and education. Also, the number of students enrolled in universities has increased. So it is not practical to learn the course only by mere lecturing through online classes. Therefore the university has devised a way to introduce blended learning.

​Medical laboratory education can only be fulfilled with proper proportions of theoretical and practical knowledge. There are topics that have to be covered via laboratory experiences to master the skills. Thus knowledge cannot be verbally shared or achieved from a pathological expert to a student. If they are unable to attend the necessary laboratory practicals, then they could not complete the course effectively. They might lack the expected skill and it will definitely reflect on the career. Therefore blended learning can be a gift.

The universities had decided to put forward the concept of blended learning. It consists of two types of learning. A method introduced to teach students by incorporating digital media technology with traditional teacher-student classrooms. It gives the students an exposure to the world of the customized learning experience. Some of the curriculum is expected to be covered by online learning and the other to be through face to face sessions in the universities. So the demonstration and use of the equipment can be properly grasped by the pupils. It will gradually increase their academic performance and grades. They have also responded well to the initiative of blended learning. In fact, such a medical laboratory setup began to include video demonstrations, interactive learning online. All adds to the complete efficiency to the learning and teaching approach during this pandemic.