We are living in a day and age where technology has drastically changed almost all aspects of daily life. This shift is especially pronounced in the educational sector, and even more dramatically so in the context of the Corona pandemic, which forced traditional educational institutions to move all learning online from one day to the next.
In contrast with institutions adopting eLearning tactics as an emergency measure, EDU teaches digital by design; digital learning has been integrated into the didactic concept of EDU’s programme in Medicine from day 1.
With an innovative programme in Medicine, students learn the medical theory via a digital campus, where they attend virtual classes, communicate with fellow students and expert tutors and lecturers, and access all learning materials in an online library. This is combined with 4 weeks each trimester spent in clinical rotations, so students get ample hands-on experience from the onset!
There are so many benefits for students today when it comes to learning digitally – here are the top 10 that you can look forward to when choosing to study at EDU!
- Flexibility of study location
With learning online, students have the freedom to choose where to study and attend classes, which means being able to adapt the environment to suit their needs in the best way possible. EDU’s virtual campus is accessible from anywhere with an internet connection, so whether you prefer to study in a large city or a rural setting, from home, or while travelling, you can bring your medical school with you. Students only need to be physically present for 4 weeks each trimester to participate in clinical rotations in one of our partnering hospitals in Germany.
- Self-directed learning (you choose how and when you study)
OECD declared “self-regulation” and learning how to learn as one of the top skills necessary for today’s students to achieve future job success. In training the next generation of medical professionals, EDU understands the importance of students who can self-regulate and ultimately direct their own learning. EDU teaches students to become lifelong learners by providing one-on-one guidance and opportunities to become leaders in the virtual classroom, where they deepen knowledge gained in self-study time. This helps them further engage with the material and apply it to real-world patient cases, which in turn boosts information retention.
- Become familiar with medical technology and research skills that will benefit a 21st century medical career
Thanks to EDU’s digital approach to medical education, future healthcare professionals will gain essential skills in research, evidence-based medicine, and medical technologies that are indispensable to prepare them for a modern medical career.
- Personalised learning with the help of tutors and small study groups
At EDU, virtual classes contain no more than 8 students, which differs vastly to the large lecture halls at traditional universities holding 200 people or more. In small groups, students benefit from close exchange with tutors and fellow classmates, therefore enjoying a more personalised learning experience where feedback, questions and discussion are encouraged. With added one-to-one and group mentorship, students have the advantage of receiving personal and professional guidance throughout their learning journey as they work towards their study and career goals.
- Digital tools and gamification make learning interactive
Game design elements on the platform make learning medical content much more engaging, and thus easier to learn and remember. EDU provides students access to advanced digital learning tools like Draw-it-to-Know-it and BioDigital to study human anatomy, perform virtual dissections, and learn about the body in an interactive way which is shown to improve anatomical learning and clinical application.
- Equal and unlimited access to learning materials: anytime, anywhere
Online, students get instant access to the most up-to-date teaching materials. For EDU students, it is easier to navigate the content because everything they need is in a concise location on the platform, removing the need to leave the virtual space. This means no trips to the library or bookstore to buy pricey textbooks and closing hours at the lab don’t mean being shut out of study time!
- Connect to a community of learners and network of experts
In EDU’s digital campus, students benefit from real-time communication with all members of the learning community. The virtual classrooms are live video conferences to discuss assignments and learning materials for tutors and teams, and students can meet up or chat outside of class time via the platform to collaborate on projects and share materials, as well as receive added support from tutors and experts through the forum and messaging services.
- Equal access to high-quality teachers, independent of location
Unequal access to quality teachers is especially a problem for students in remote or low-income regions of the world, according to World Educational Forum, and medical schools tend to be concentrated in more urban areas. At EDU, students learn medical theory from a pool of international expert medical professionals and do not have to leave their hometown to do so, if they so choose. This levels the playing field for students to access the same level of quality of education, no matter where they are based.
- Easier to track individual student progress and adjust accordingly
As a digital institution of higher education, it is much easier for EDU to track individual student progress and achievement of learning goals with the help of technology. For example, as teams collaborate on assignments, tutors can give helpful hints on the work in progress. Instant feedback loops made possible through the platform lead to higher optimisation of content, and no student gets left behind.
- It’s greener!
No campus, no textbooks, and less time commuting make learning digitally much more environmentally friendly. A study found that distance learning higher education courses reduce energy consumption by 87% and CO2 emissions by 85% when compared to traditional universities. By choosing to study remotely at EDU, students reduce their carbon footprint.
Are you interested in studying medicine digitally in 2021? Register here for our next Virtual Open Day to meet current faculty and students and learn more about the programme!
