arrow
Return

Learner Preferences for Asynchronous Independent Learning Materials

delete2025-12-01
delete0
PRE
AI
T
Timothy J. Bauler *
B
Brian P. Higgins
N
Neal R. Chamberlain
R
Rebecca J. Greenblatt
J
Julie A. Kerry
DOI:10.1007/s40670-025-02597-0delete
deleteOriginal
deleteOriginal request for help
deleteShare
deleteSave
Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Asynchronous independent learning comprises a significant proportion of many medical school preclinical curricula. Instructor-guided asynchronous independent learning is known to be an effective teaching modality, yet how learners perceive and use asynchronous independent learning materials (AILM) is less well studied. Understanding learners' format preferences and the learner-perceived efficacy of AILMs is required for design of optimally effective content and curricula. This multi-institutional survey of medical students at diverse US medical schools asked learners to indicate their preferred format of AILM, how much time they spend on these curricular materials, the traits that make individual AILMs effective or ineffective, and if they prefer AILMs to lecture. This study used a mixed-methods phenomenological approach to understand the students' experience of learning using AILMs. Student responses indicate they prefer AILMs generated by faculty at their institution over faculty curation of learning resources created by others and want AILMs provided a few days prior to when their learning must be applied. Further, students value succinctness and practice questions in AILMs over any other traits. Finally, learners indicate a preference for AILMs over lecture when learning simple topics, whereas learners indicate essentially equal preference for AILMs and lecture when learning complex topics. Together, these data can guide faculty in their efforts to generate optimally effective AILMs for today's medical learners.
Keywords:
Asynchronous learning
Instructor-guided independent learning
Learner preferences
Preclinical medical education

Journal

M
Medical Science Educator
IF:
1.8
Papers:
225
Citations:
0

Organization

S
suny upstate medical university
Scholars:
321
Papers: 196
Citations: 1
S
state university of new york (suny) system
Scholars:
6.5W
Papers: 5.8W
Citations: 65
E
eastern virginia medical school
Scholars:
31
Papers: 24
Citations: 0
U
university of kentucky
Scholars:
1.2K
Papers: 529
Citations: 1
A
A.T. Still University of Health Sciences
Scholars:
573
Papers: 420
Citations: 4
researcher View more organizations