Conventional teaching remains effective in teaching medical biochemistry in BPKIHS, Nepal, although students enjoy supplementary computer teaching

• Published in: Biochemistry and molecular biology education Vol. 29; no. 4; pp. 137 - 141
• Main Authors: Koner, B.C, Lamsal, M, Banerjee, B.D, Baral, N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 2001
• Subjects: Computer-aided learning; Facilitator; MHC; Structure–function relationship; Subject expert; Subject expert; Facilitator; MHC; Computer-aided learning; Structure–function relationship
• DOI: 10.1016/S1470-8175(01)00047-9
• EISSN: 1539-3429
• ISSN: 1470-8175

A computer program down loaded from the Internet was used as a tutorial to teach the structure–function relationship of MHC molecule to MBBS students of BPKIHS, a medical college in Nepal. The computer-aided teaching session, with a facilitator from the biochemistry faculty, was found to be more interesting to the students although learning outcomes were not enhanced by comparison to sessions using only conventional tools. A non-subject expert presenting the computer tutorial failed to generate interest in the topic, and the achievement of learning objectives by the students was inferior. We conclude that the interaction with a biochemistry subject expert was crucial for success in our use of computer-aided teaching sessions on the structure–function relationship of proteins. The results are discussed with attention to the role of computer-aided instruction in medical colleges in a developing country (Nepal).