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| LETTER TO THE EDITOR |
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| Year : 2017 | Volume
: 30
| Issue : 3 | Page : 258-259 |
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Undergraduate research training: E-learning experience in Peru
Rudy Fasanando-Vela1, Jessica Meza-Liviapoma2, Carlos Jesus Toro-Huamanchumo3, Antonio Marty Quispe4
1 Department of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Universidad Privada Antenor Orrego, Trujillo; Laboratorio de Investigación y Desarrollo, ESCACORP S.A.C., La Libertad, Peru
2 Department of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Piura, Piura, Peru
3 Centro de Investigación en Epidemiología Clínica y Medicina Basada en Evidencias, Universidad de San Martín de Porres, Chiclayo, Peru
4 Departamento de Investigación, Grupo de Investigación Biomédica Web Med Research, Lima, Peru; Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| Date of Web Publication | 18-Apr-2018 |
Correspondence Address:
Carlos Jesus Toro-Huamanchumo
El Muelle Lotes 5, 6 Y 7. Dpto. 104. Las Delicias, Chiclayo
Peru
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/efh.EfH_56_17
How to cite this article:
Fasanando-Vela R, Meza-Liviapoma J, Toro-Huamanchumo CJ, Quispe AM. Undergraduate research training: E-learning experience in Peru. Educ Health 2017;30:258-9 |
Dear Editor,
Using information and communication technologies, students now can access all sorts of courses than previously only could be offered at universities through in-class lectures. The overall methodology developed for remote teaching using the Internet is known as e-learning.[1] Although e-learning is relatively new in medical education, its increasing acceptance by students and teachers worldwide has caught the attention of most universities.[2] However, its applications in research training have not been adequately studied.[3]
In Peru, the Scientific Society of Medical Students (SOCIMEP) is one of the promoters of research among undergraduate students. Consequently, since 2012, SOCIMEP has organized several e-learning courses including courses on research methods and scientific writing. Some of these experiences have been previously reported in peer-reviewed journals.[4],[5]
We want to share the SOCIMEP latest experience promoting research using e-learning. Thus, we analyzed the curricula and outcomes in the three latest editions of the scientific writing and publication online course.
In 2015, the course was improved by implementing an easy to access online platform and by incorporating two signing up modalities: “with manuscript” and “without manuscript.” Students trained in the with manuscript modality, in addition to the standard contents (as in the “without manuscript” mode), received the necessary one-to-one mentorship to complete and publish his/her research. We also implemented a theoretical-practical evaluation which included two comprehensive examinations (partial and final) and weekly assignments (with fully explained solutions) [Table 1]. These improvements allowed the SOCIMEP to achieve a higher coverage of the Peruvian medical student community as well as to improve the standard used at its different in-class training programs. | Table 1: Characteristics of the scientific writing and publication online courses of the Peruvian Scientific Society of Medical Students, 2012-2015
Click here to view |
In summary, we have gained some experience in using e-learning for undergraduate research training, but we have a long way to go to master the method. Based on our experience, e-learning facilitates coverage of larger audiences with limited resources. However, further improvements are necessary to increase the completeness (completion of at least 70% of the course assignments and all the evaluations) and approval rates. Furthermore, we need to better evaluate the impact on “hard outcomes” such as the quantity and quality of undergraduate scientific production and to best verify the courses' effectiveness. This evaluation has to standardize and should record the main students' scientific outcomes in the first 2-year postcourse (e.g., number of publications, journals' impact factors, article types).
Financial support and sponsorship
Antonio M Quispe was partially funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation trough the grant OPP1099774.
Conflicts of interest
RFV, JML and CJTH were part of the Organizing Committee of the Online Course of Scientific Writing and Publication in 2015. AMQ was member of the Mentorship Staff at the same course.
| References | |  |
| 1. | Doherty I, Sharma N, Harbutt D. Contemporary and future eLearning trends in medical education. Med Teach 2015;37:1-3.  [ PUBMED] |
| 2. | Gaebel M, Kupriyanova V, Morais R, Colucci E. E-Learning in European Higher Education Institutions: Results of a Mapping Survey. Brussels, Belgium: European Univeristy Association Publications: 2014. |
| 3. | Ruiz JG, Mintzer MJ, Leipzig RM. The impact of E-learning in medical education. Acad Med 2006;81:207-12. [ PUBMED] |
| 4. | Taype-Rondan A, Valladares-Garrido D, Eyzaguirre-Villagarcia J, Bendezu-Quispe G, Carbajal-Castro C. Nuevas herramientas para capacitar a los estudiantes de medicina en investigación: Experiencias del primer curso virtual de redacción científica de la SOCIMEP. CIMEL 2013;18:51-2. |
| 5. | Failoc-Rojas VE, Quiñones-Laveriano DM. E-learning in medical research in Peru: A training alternative. Rev Cubana Inf Cienc Salud 2015;26:201-3. |
[Table 1]
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