Far from being obsolete, many healthcare students continue to rely on textbooks as their primary method of learning new content (Boudains et al., 2013; Wynter et al., 2019). I believe that textbooks continue to play a vital part in education today, however, advancements in technology has also allowed this form of learning to become more effective, with the development of electronic textbooks, allowing them to remain an integral part of the modern educational strategy. This allows students to have access to high quality, in depth information, whilst also incorporating additional features which can make the learning process more effective. In the rapidly advancing world of evidence based medicine, printed texts can quickly become out of date. The use of electronic textbooks however, can provide both a reliable source of information, and facilitates updating information more easily.
Modern electronic textbooks often have additional features, introducing elements of interactivity, allowing the student to engage more fully with the material. Developers of electronic textbooks can design material in keeping with educational pedagogy, such as Gagne’s nine events of instruction, with opportunities to present content, provide opportunities to practice content and give feedback through interactive features, facilitating learners to assess their performance, and making the learning process more effective (Al-Qassabi and Al-Samarraie, 2013). A key stage of the nine events of instruction is the presentation of knowledge, which textbooks are able to reliably provide. Other sources of information may not be as well regulated and thus could potentially result in the spread of misinformation. Advancement in technology could also provide platforms for leaners to engage online with other learners or teachers whilst using the electronic textbook, thus further enhancing the learning experience, and allowing users to be able to explore topics further with their colleagues, and encouraging peer learning, which could help to further develop understanding of the topic.
In my own experience as a learner during medical school, I found using electronic textbooks to be an essential stage of my learning process, to create a strong foundation of my knowledge base. I found electronic textbooks with question banks linked to content to be especially useful, and meant that I was able to gain this knowledge quickly and effectively through spaced repetition. This allowed me to gain essential knowledge during medical school which I have been able to put into practice now as a foundation doctor.
In conclusion, textbooks remain an essential part of modern education. Technology has allowed textbooks to gain additional features, resulting in more effective learning materials. They continue to be a common resource used by students, and play a vital role in learning today.
References:
Al-Qassabi H and Al-Samarraie H. (2013). Applying Gagne’s Nine Events in the Design of an Interactive eBook to Learn 3D Animation. Scientific and Academic Publishing, 3(3), 60-72. DOI:10.5923/j.ac.20130303.05
Baudains C. Et al. (2013). What educational resources are medical students using for personal study during primary care attachments? Education for Primary Care, 24:5, 340-345, DOI: 10.1080/14739879.2013.11494198
Wynter, L. et al. (2019). Medical students: what educational resources are they using? BMC Medical Education 19, 36. DOI: 10.1186/s12909-019-1462-9