Perceptual Characteristics of Students in e-Content of the Curriculum; Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

Alongside the development of newfound technologies and also the advent of e-learning into so many areas, educational system generally and medical education specifically, have encountered too many new needs in the field of curriculum and educational materials. The aim of this study was to evaluate the students’ cognitive and perceptual characteristics of the electronic content. Instrument & This descriptive survey study was performed in 250 e-learning students (164 girls and 86 boys) of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in 2013-14 academic year who were selected through random stratified sampling method. The used instrument was van der Laan and Vanberk perceptual features questionnaire that measured the perceptual characteristics in relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, testability and visibility components. Data analysis was performed using one-sample T test. The average score of perceptual characteristics of students (68.28±6.14) was significantly (p=0.0001) less than the 80% cut-off point of hypothetical average (75). The average score of relative advantage subscale (17.23±2.44) was significantly (p=0.0001) more than the 80% cut-off point of hypothetical average (16), But the average scores of compatibility (11.63±2.48; p=0.0001), complexity (13.53±1.72; p=0.0001), testability (11.37±1.33; p=0.0001), and visibility (15.09±2.36; p>0.05) were lower than the hypothetical mean (16). Perceptual characteristics of students in the field of electronic content has no desirable status in the curriculum of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences regarding its subscales and only relative advantage subscale has a desirable condition.