Flipped classroom assisted by Rain Classroom for anatomy practical classes: Challenges and opportunities of anatomy education

Anatomy practical classes are an essential part of learning human anatomy. The flipped classroom teaching model has been used in medical education in recent years. However, its precise impacts on anatomical knowledge acquisition and learning outcomes remain controversial. With the development of information technology, new educational tools, such as Rain Classroom, have recently attracted much interest. The Rain Classroom is an application that can easily connect students and teachers through smartphones or computers. However, whether and how to apply it to the flipped classroom in anatomy practical classes needs to be evaluated. In this study, we designed a teaching model of flipped classroom assisted by Rain Classroom and carried it out in anatomy practical classes at our university. Results showed that the final exam scores of the experimental group were significantly improved, compared with the control group (p < 0.01); the final exam score was significantly correlated with both the pre-class quiz score (p < 0.05) and the in-class quiz score (p < 0.001). Student satisfaction was measured by a questionnaire on a Likert scale of 1-5. All the mean scores were greater than 4.5, indicating that most students had positive attitudes toward this teaching model. The present study suggests that the Rain Classroom helps support students throughout the learning processes of the flipped classroom, and the model of flipped classroom assisted by Rain Classroom could improve students' learning efficiency and ultimately increase their exam performance in anatomy practical classes.

Rain Classroom and PAD class blended learning mode effectively improves teaching quality in a surgical nursing course

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effect of Rain Classroom and Presentation-Assimilation-Discussion (PAD) class blended learning mode on a surgical nursing course.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, a total of 212 nursing undergraduates of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities were selected as the research objects. There were 102 participants taking the traditional teaching model, assigned into the control group. The remaining 110 participants taking Rain Classroom and PAD class blended learning mode were assigned into the observation group. A questionnaire survey was conducted after the intervention.

RESULTS

After the intervention, the comprehensive assessment score of the observation group was higher than the control group ((83.8 ± 2.64) vs. (81.71 ± 3.74), P = 0.01). The independent learning ability ((81.61 ± 12.04) vs. (77.46 ± 4.23), P = 0.001), and self-efficacy ((27.78 ± 4.18) vs. (26.39 ± 4.67), P = 0.023) were higher in the observation group than those in the control group. The course satisfaction of the observation group was higher than that in the control group (79.09% and 65.69%, P = 0.029).

CONCLUSIONS

The blended mode of Rain Classroom with PAD class effectively improves teaching quality, academic performance, self-learning ability, self-efficacy of students, and increased students' satisfaction with teaching methods.

Rain Classroom assisted by WeChat for preliminary online physiology teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic during spring semester 2020, teachers and students were forced to engage in online instruction. However, there is little evidence on the feasibility of online physiology teaching. This study demonstrated a 3-wk preliminary online physiology course based on Rain Classroom assisted by the mobile application WeChat. Eighty-seven nursing undergraduate students attended an online physiology course during the spring semester of the 2019-2020 academic year from March 9 to March 29. We determined the effects of the online physiology learning based on in-class tests, preclass preparation, and review rates for the course materials. We also measured the students' perceptions and attitudes about online learning with a questionnaire survey. Posttest scores from the first week to the third week in online physiology course (7.22 ± 1.83, 7.68 ± 2.09, and 6.21 ± 2.92, respectively) exceeded the pretest scores (5.32 ± 2.14, 6.26 ± 2.49, and 3.72 ± 2.22, respectively), and this finding was statistically significant (all P < 0.001). Moreover, the pretest scores were significant positive predictors of final grade (all P < 0.01). In addition, the percentage of preclass preparation increased in 3 wk, from 43.68% to 57.47% to 68.97%. From the first week to the third week, the review rate increased from 86.21% to 91.95%; however, the second week was the lowest of all (72.41%). Finally, students' perceptions about their online physiology learning experiences were favorable. In conclusion, online physiology instruction based on Rain Classroom assisted by WeChat was an effective strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic.