Mikros, an Android Application for the Microbiology and Parasitology Subject in the University of Medical Sciences of Camagüey

Authors

Keywords:

mobile learning, m-learning, information and communication technologies, application.

Abstract

Introduction: Mobile learning (m-learning) consists in the inclusion of mobile devices into learning activities. In the teaching of medical parasitology and microbiology, such devices offer a high power of illustration and contribute to medical students’ learning of the subject; in addition, they serve as support to other profiles such as health technology.

Objective: To present the update, by means of an android application, of the Microbiology and Parasitology course at the University of Medical Sciences of Camagüey.

Methods: An optimized application for android 4.4 or higher was created with the Java programming language. This research was carried out at Carlos J. Finlay University of Medical Sciences and applied to medical students in the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 academic years. The study universe was made up of 1446 students from the academic years from 2016 to 2020. A survey validated by experts was carried out, in the period between November and December 2020, with a probabilistic sample of 88 students from the University of Medical Sciences of Camagüey. Kendall's coefficient of general concordance (W) was calculated for the answers to the questions.

Results: Mikros was a teaching support tool, the result of a collaborative project between the Center of Immunology and Biological Products at the University of Medical Sciences and the School of Computer Engineering at Ignacio Agramonte University, in Camagüey, which allowed to present the professor in a teaching modality much in tune with the current times.

Conclusions: The Mikros application included basic concepts and a high update level. It also contributed to raising the student’s academic index and satisfaction with learning. It turned out to be a practical consultation tool for students of higher academic years of the major who are rotating through the clinical area, as well as a useful tool for distance learning in COVID-19 times.

Author Biography

José Aureliano Betancourt Bethencourt, UCMC

UCMC

Published

2022-05-31

Issue

Section

Artículos Originales