This paper aims to convey information about the useful web resources available for handling pharmacology practical with special emphasis on its advantages and limitations.Ĭomputer-assisted learning is almost similar to the experiential model of learning. It has got unique presentational benefits, helps in personalized learning, and helps in achieving the ultimate goal of higher education. They offer a range of benefits like it is convenient and flexible. These can range from sophisticated and expensive commercial packages to applications developed by projects in other educational institutions or national initiatives to simple solutions developed by individuals with no funding or support to tackle a very local problem. CAL projects are designed in such a way that it helps to provide students with an alternative to traditional lectures. The term Computer Assisted Learning deals with a range of computer-based packages, which are focused on to provide interactive instruction usually in a specific subject area. Hence CD containing CAL software for teaching animal experiments is becoming a revolution in pharmacological teaching. Further, it is quite time consuming to demonstrate minute details of pharmacological procedures and drug effects to a batch of students and the increasing strength of practical batches is making it difficult to interact with each student.
Both CAL and laboratory practical classes are valuable tools for pharmacological experiments. Recent trends in the developments of information technology support such methods. Today, computer assisted learning has become a vital part in the pharmacology curriculum. 1 Nowadays, these are being adopted by many colleges at both postgraduate and undergraduate levels. Recently the undergraduate training in pharmacology has been revolutionized with adoptions of newer teaching tools like group discussions, role plays, using audio-visual aids, clinical and community pharmacology studies. In the modern century, pharmacology has turned into an emerging area with high career orientation. Even though there are certain limitations, it has been proven to be a novel alternative to the traditional and conventional animal experimental methods. They also reduce the total investment in space, equipment and faculty time required in the traditional sequence of laboratory experiments. These newer methods of instruction are proving to be more advantageous over conventional methods of teaching and learning.
The purpose of this study is point out the major advantages and limitations of computer simulated learning in pharmacology experiments. Recently, there is a huge demand and increasing interest in introducing CAL techniques in pharmacology. A number of interactive multimedia software has been developed to demonstrate the Pharmacological experiments to medical students. Computer assisted learning (CAL) is a collection of experimentation on the course software package to understand the concepts and techniques.
Learning skills development and computer-assisted learning methods are key factors of a student's education.