Interdisciplinary Journal of Virtual Learning in Medical Sciences
Volume:3 Issue: 3, 2012

The present study reviews the role of employing E-learning in the teaching and learning process at Payam Noor University، Mazandaran province، Iran، from the faculty members'' point of view during 2012. This study is practical in terms of purpose and descriptive in terms of nature and survey in terms of method. The statistical population consisted of 300 faculty members. 103 persons were selected using the Kerjcie-Morgan table according by the simple random sampling method. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire. The face and content validity of the questionnaire was approved by experts and its reliability was 0. 87 according to retest and Cronbach''s alpha coefficient. Data analysis was done by means of descriptive and inferential (chi-square test) statistics. From the faculty members'' point of view، online and conventional training، internet، video-conference، multimedia، mobile based training and also training via TV and audio-video tapes are effective in the student''s learning-teaching process. Professors and students can employ introduced E-learning tools in order to promote and improve the educational quality and the teaching-learning process in Payam Noor University Centers of Mazandaran province.

The Laboratory Information System is a computerized information system which manages laboratory data in the fields of clinical chemistry، hematology، microbiology، etc. We aimed to evaluate the performance of laboratory information systems of the public hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences، Shiraz، Iran. In this descriptive cross-sectional study، data were collected using checklists which were completed by visiting diagnostic medical laboratories. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Considering the score specified for each target، the lowest mean (2. 29) was related to identifying emergency patients and prioritizing their laboratory tests. Moreover، the complete mean score related to the possibility of defining various tests was in the normal rage and the possibility of giving alarms was not in the normal range. Nemazee and Madar-Koodak Hospitals had the highest score (139). Moreover، we found a significant difference between laboratory information systems using Windows and DOS (P=0. 06، CI: 90%). Given the existing situation، the overall condition of the laboratory information systems of the public hospitals of Shiraz is desirable. However، a clear need is felt for paying more attention to the emergency patients and specific groups.

The present study reviews the role of employing E-learning in the teaching and learning process at Payam Noor Univarsity، Mazandaran province، Iran، from the faculty members'' point of view during 2012. This study is practical in terms of purpose and descriptive in terms of nature and survey in terms of method. The statistical population consisted of 300 faculty members. 103 persons were selected using the Kerjcie-Morgan table according by the simple random sampling method. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire. The face and content validity of the questionnaire was approved by experts and its reliability was 0. 87 according to retest and Cronbach''s alpha coefficient. Data analysis was done by means of descriptive and inferential (chi-square test) statistics. From the faculty members'' point of view، online and conventional training، internet، video-conference، multimedia، mobile based training and also training via TV and audio-video tapes are effective in the student''s learning-teaching process. Professors and students can employ introduced E-learning tools in order to promote and improve the educational quality and the teaching-learning process in Payam Noor University Centers of Mazandaran province.

Since E-learning is rapidly expanding in developing countries، it is important to note and invest on the related educational processes. E-learning is a learner-based model which enables learners to find information at personal pace and at the desired time. E-learning is not merely the use of electronic devices and modern technology. In designing such courses attention should be paid to educational aims and theories، and the characteristics and needs of the learners. To be a suitable educational method and to survive competition، E-learning should be able to improve educational performance and increase learner satisfaction compared with common modes of education. Learner satisfaction from the educational course is an influential factor in learner persistence، educational performance، and attracting new learners in educational processes، especially E-learning. Therefore، we aimed to determine the effective factors in increased learner satisfaction from E-learning courses. A documentary-analytical method has been used and after describing the E-learning process، its advantages and disadvantages and leaner satisfaction of this method have been assessed. The influential factors are scientific and theoretical knowledge and attitude of the educator towards electronic learning and new technologies، attitude، self-efficiency and the learner''s anxiety towards computers and electronic learning، and the variety and facilitated technology application. Ultimately، some suggestions have been presented for increasing learner satisfaction in E-learning systems.

Planning to design and perform a sustainable and effective E-learning educational system needs a correct understanding of the impact of information and communication technology on the higher education market as well as knowledge about the learning-teaching processes. Considering previous experiences and studies، various E-learning models have been presented. These models opt to define suitable frameworks for challenges that learners face when using technology in education in order to provide an effective E-learning experience. The presented models for E-learning are beneficial tools for evaluating existing experiences and factors that influence its effectiveness. These factors are used in planning the development of E-learning at universities. Therefore، in this article various E-learning models have been assessed.