With the ongoing pandemic, much of the teaching has moved online. While lectures, notes, and coaching can be effectively communicated, clinical or practical education remains a challenge. A limitation that hinders MBBS students from completing learning milestones and reaching outcomes successfully.

To achieve MBBS competencies, the Indian Medical Graduate (IMG) most benefits from Case-Based Learning (CBL) as it imparts practical knowledge of topics learned in the classroom and showcases real-life scenarios to expect in a hospital setting.

Learning through Case-Based study assets

Case-Based Learning promotes understanding by placing events in a realistic context. In short, it mimics a real-life situation which stimulates the student to think and apply their knowledge when trying to answer questions associated with the case. Cases are presented as problems with a patient’s clinical conditions and are supplemented with required additional knowledge and factors.

Case-Based Learning brings about both horizontal (within an academic year) and vertical (across academic years) integration and provides a student with an opportunity to apply their knowledge. A well-designed case acts as a good teacher in itself. It becomes a teacher by motivating the student to learn more about the case and refer to other learning materials to solve puzzling questions.

Manipal MedAce’s Case-Based Learning Assets

Manipal MedAce uses well-designed clinical scenarios drawn from the experienced subject matter experts who have contributed to promoting Case-Based Learning.

These assets are across various real-life contexts and situations and built on e-learning principles. To give the feel of a clinic or hospital, the student must choose an avatar and then proceed with the case challenge present. The case discloses itself progressively, thereby aiding in a structured learning journey. Instructional design principles make the cases interesting, create logical steps, allow for practice, and promote better learning.

Designed for progressive knowledge checks and self-assessment

The Case-Based Learning sessions are peppered with questions for students to check their knowledge and understanding at various steps as they progress. On the other hand, the MCQs have cases as STEMs – elaborately and meticulously designed, which further stimulate Case-Based Learning.

Content-rich and competencies focused

All the cases present on MedAce can be mapped to specific competencies. Some of the cases used in Manipal MedAce span across competencies allowing for the integration of subjects and giving impetus to integrated understanding and learning.

Unique learning assets

The cases have been designed by experienced faculty members having decades of experience teaching medicine across India’s top medical schools. These cases presented on MedAce are unique to the learning resource. The instructional design treatment adapted across the resource’s assets has further elevated the Case-Based Learning experience by making it more interesting, engaging, and immersive.

MedAce’s Case-Based Learning assets are distinctive because they integrate subjects and simulate better retention in the student’s mind. For example, a case of jaundice will bring together biochemical parameters, knowledge of biliary apparatus, the physiology of blood and related concepts together.

Not limited to the theoretical cases, Manipal MedAce’s Linker Case Videos present also act as elements of Case-Based Learning, where the case is literally ‘acted out’ for the student.

Benefits of Case-Based Learning

Case-Based Learning in MedAce provide students with a practical scenario that they may encounter in clinical postings and help them prepare. It provides important clinical context to concepts that a student may find difficult to grasp. A real-life scenario helps students visualize and link their classroom knowledge with clinical scenarios. MedAce’s design treated content also makes a student familiar with approaching such cases in a step-by-step process.

Outcome driven learning asset

Case-Based Learning is important as it brings about intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in students. It provides an excellent avenue for the assimilation of subjects. It also integrates knowledge and practice and promotes scientific inquiry through further reading, making one a lifelong learner.

Case-based Learning (CBL) is an effective tool to supplement classroom learning. Its effective use by students ensures understanding of subject matter when applied to a hospital setting. Incorporating Case-Based Learning within the curriculum makes learning MBBS simple and effective when building the competencies of a medical graduate.

Highlights of Case-Based Learning Content by Manipal MedAce

• Help understand the application of Basic Sciences when solving real-time clinical problems
• Facilitates perfection of concepts and techniques through repeat learning
• Practical tips to enable competent application in a clinical scenario