title: An e-learning course in medical immunology: does it improve learning outcome?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  E-learning is used by most medical students almost daily and several studies have shown e-learning to improve learning outcome in small-scale interventions. However, few studies have explored the effects of e-learning in immunology.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of an e-learning package in immunology on learning outcomes in a written integrated examination and to examine student satisfaction with the e-learning package.
  
  
  METHODS
  All second-year students at a Norwegian medical school were offered an animated e-learning package in basic immunology as a supplement to the regular teaching. Each student's log-on-time was recorded and linked with the student's score on multiple choice questions included in an integrated end-of-the-year written examination. Student satisfaction was assessed through a questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intermediate-range students (interquartile range) on average scored 3.6% better on the immunology part of the examination per hour they had used the e-learning package (p = 0.0046) and log-on-time explained 17% of the variance in immunology score. The best and the less skilled students' examination outcomes were not affected by the e-learning. The e-learning was well appreciated among the students.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of an e-learning package in immunology in addition to regular teaching improved learning outcomes for intermediate-range students.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway. sondreb@stud.ntnu.no
authors.forename: Sondre
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boye
authors.forename: Torolf
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moen
authors.forename: Torstein
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vik
mesh_terms: D000486:Allergy and Immunology / Q000193:education*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004522:Educational Status; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D016014:Linear Models; D009664:Norway; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013337:Students, Medical; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods