An online app platform enhances collaborative medical student group learning and classroom management

Abstract

Purpose: The authors presented their results in effectively using a free and widely-accessible online app platform to manage and teach a first-year pathology course at Mayo Medical School.

Methods used: The authors utilized the Google “Blogger”, “Forms”, “Flubaroo”, “Sheets”, “Docs”, and “Slides” apps to effectively build a collaborative classroom teaching and management system. Students were surveyed on the use of the app platform in the classroom, and 44 (94%) students responded.

Results: Thirty-two (73%) of the students reported that “Blogger” was an effective place for online discussion of pathology topics and questions. 43 (98%) of the students reported that the “Forms/Flubaroo” grade-reporting system was helpful. 40 (91%) of the students used the remote, collaborative features of “Slides” to create team-based learning presentations, and 39 (89%) of the students found those collaborative features helpful. “Docs” helped teaching assistants to collaboratively create study guides or grading rubrics. Overall, 41 (93%) of the students found that the app platform was helpful in establishing a collaborative, online classroom environment.

Conclusions: The online app platform allowed faculty to build an efficient and effective classroom teaching and management system. The ease of accessibility and opportunity for collaboration allowed for collaborative learning, grading, and teaching.

Declaration of interest: Authors do not have conflicts of interest to disclose.

The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of Brooke Army Medical Center, the U.S. Army Medical Department, the U.S. Army Office of the Surgeon General, the Department of the Army, the Department of the Air Force and Department of Defense or the U.S. Government. The appearance of name-brand products, like Google, in this article does not constitute endorsement by Brooke Army Medical Center, the U.S. Army Medical Department, the U.S. Army Office of the Surgeon General, the Department of the Army, the Department of the Air Force and Department of Defense or the U.S. Government of the information, products, or services contained therein.