title: e-Teaching in pediatric cardiology: A paradigm shift.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Training of postgraduate students has traditionally been done in person in a hospital setting with hands-on training with each faculty member imparting knowledge to 2 to 4 students per year. Supplementing their practical education with online instruction could make a significant difference in standardizing pediatric cardiology education in India.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To present the rationale, methods and survey results of a live e-Teaching methodology implemented for Pediatric cardiology trainees in association with the National Board of Examinations, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between March 2010 and March 2014, 310 e-classes were conducted in the Pediatric cardiac sciences by 24 e-teachers. Content of the e-Learning program was based on a 2-year pediatric cardiology curriculum and included twice-weekly live online video training sessions, a library of recorded sessions and online test quizzes for the students. A total of 231 students accessed the program at various times over the 4-year period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our study, requests for access to the e-lectures increased from 10/year the first year to 100/year by the fourth year with feedback surveys conveying a high satisfaction level from the students and a high need for this knowledge. The advantages of virtual live e-Learning included the fact that one teacher can teach multiple students in multiple geographic locations at the same time, obviating the issue of quality teacher shortage and the same content can be disseminated to all students undergoing specialist training so there is a national consensus on diagnostic and management approach among all trainees. Additionally, the e-classes can be recorded and replayed so they can be viewed repeatedly by the same group or new trainees.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first sustained use of e-Teaching in a medical super-specialty in India. We believe that e-Teaching is an innovative solution that can be applied, not just to Pediatric Cardiology as we have done, but to all branches of specialist and super-specialist medical training in India and globally.
authors: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, People4People, RXDX, Bangalore, India.
authors: Sunita
authors: S
authors: Maheshwari
authors: Department of International Programs, Children's Heart Link, Minnesota, USA.
authors: Bistra
authors: B
authors: Zheleva
authors: Department of International Programs, Children's Heart Link, Minnesota, USA.
authors: Veeralakshmi
authors: V
authors: Rajasekhar
authors: Executive Director, National Board of Examinations, New Delhi, India.
authors: Bipin
authors: B
authors: Batra
keywords: e-Learning; e-teaching; pediatric cardiology