Distance Learning: Adapting to Online Medical School Classes

7 min readPublished On: April 7, 2022Categories: Medical Practice, Medical School
Distance Learning at SGU School of Medicine

 

This article was originally written during the COVID-19 pandemic closures when SGU offered alternative flexible learning opportunities. The information below may no longer apply.

In this article, you’ll learn:  

  • What to expect from online medical school classes 
  • Whether online medical training is less effective 
  • How SGU supports online medical students 

COVID-19 has shifted the way we live, which also shifts the way we learn. But just because we need to map a new approach to medical education doesn’t mean doctors-in-training should receive an education any less comprehensive or experiential.  

The St. George’s University (SGU) School of Medicine has built robust and interactive distance learning programs for our basic science students. From live lectures and labs to integrated clinical skills training sessions served virtually, students will walk away from their distance learning experiences fully prepared to take the next step in their training to become a doctor.  

To give you a better idea of what you can expect from online medical school classes at SGU, we enlisted a handful of students to answer some of the questions you may have. 

3 Critical questions about online learning in medical school 

No one understands the necessity of making adjustments for the sake of public health quite like the medical community. But at SGU, we strongly maintain that our students’ dreams of becoming doctors shouldn’t be deterred due to unexpected campus closures and other global health protocols. 

As the School of Medicine continues to find innovative ways to bring our expertise and knowledge to our students attending online medical school courses, it’s vital for these future physicians to feel supported and properly prepared for their exams. Read on to learn how SGU has been rising to that challenge.  

1. What can I expect as an online medical student? 

The distance learning programs at SGU include multidisciplinary, clinical case-based, live small groups led by trained Doctor of Medicine (MD) facilitators. And, to make life even easier for online medical students, recordings and other resources are made available for self-paced, independent study.  

“My original small group grew very close, and they were extremely supportive and willing to help each other out,” shares SGU student Stephanie Chen. “It is this culture we created for one another that has enabled us to put our best foot forward and make the best out of the online learning experience.” 

Additional features of the online learning program include live content like lectures and interactive multiple-choice question sessions. This multi-layered approach helps provide a dynamic and social learning environment despite the virtual constraints. Students can participate in integrated clinical skills training in addition to a range of highly topical electives—and they can do so comfortably from a distance.  

“One thing I really enjoyed was taking things at a different pace than I had in Grenada,” SGU student Sibel Dikmen notes. “Surprisingly, I also made so many new friends—who I now study with daily—after moving to an online structure.” The flexibility offered by this distance learning format can actually become an advantage as you build the foundational knowledge and skills you’ll need to continue your training to become a doctor. 

“I feel that I have more time to study. I don’t have to account for time driving to/from campus or even just moving around campus from class to a study hall. It’s self-paced, so it’s easy to prioritize what you want in the order you want,” SGU student Claudia Muller Moran says. She found she was still able to foster close relationships with her classmates through group chats and various social platforms.  

2. Will I get the same quality of medical education from distance learning? 

The School of Medicine at SGU is committed to providing students with the unique, hands-on experience they’re expecting from medical school while attending their basic science courses online. This approach allows them to fully immerse themselves in the course material and the classroom experience from wherever they’re located.   

Online medical students will receive the same high-quality education as they would get on SGU’s campus in Grenada. With extensive distance learning resources, we’ve ensured our program meets the same criteria and rigorous academic standards the SGU School of Medicine has always upheld.   

Students can expect the following from their online medical education at SGU:  

  • Both synchronous and asynchronous lectures will be available to support different learning styles and enable a blended learning model. 
  • Directed learning resources and activities will involve high-quality images and animations customized and generated by SGU. 
  • Exposure to web-based scientific literature, faculty-developed videos, and other streamlined content formats. 
  • New clinical cases are constantly being added to the curriculum. 

This flexible, virtual approach to medical education offers SGU medical students high-level training in a way that fits the nuances of online learning. “I like the fact that you are able to set your own schedule and learn at your own pace, especially if there are recordings of the lectures,” Chen says. 

“It has definitely been something I did not expect to prefer. It not only gave me the flexibility to succeed academically, but it also allowed me to allocate time towards doing things I love, including reading, cooking healthy meals, and going biking with my partner,” she adds. She also explains that the unique sense of balance online medical school classes offered her allowed her to prioritize areas of self-care she may not have been able to on campus. 

3. How will I be supported by SGU while I’m learning online? 

The School of Medicine’s dedication to providing students with a strong support system and ample online learning resources is part of what makes SGU’s program stand out. Facilitating online medical school classes doesn’t change that.  

Our technologically competent faculty has substantial experience in virtual content delivery and instructing via platforms including Zoom, Skype, and Panopto. Through mastery of these and other tools, medical school faculty are enabled to fully engage with students while supporting their online learning.  

The school offers multiple electronic points of contact to allow students to speak regularly with faculty, making every effort to keep the communication lines open at all times. One-on-one, real-time appointments are available, in addition to live, facilitator-led small groups. The following online student resources are also offered:  

  • Open drop-in office hours 
  • Online discussion to fully support student learning 
  • Dedicated online academic advising for all students studying for the USMLE 
  • Special arrangements for small groups to support students in substantially different time zones 
  • Comprehensive IT support before and during exams 

In the same way the SGU School of Medicine has a robust range of support resources available to students studying at the Grenada campus, comprehensive support is also made available to those learning online.  

“The world needs leaders right now. It’s a truly amazing opportunity to be able to go to medical school and be a part of the social change that is occurring right in front of our eyes,” Chen says.  

Master medical school online with SGU 

As people across the world continuously adapt to a “new normal,” healthcare providers face an inevitable need to shift the way they deliver medical training. The SGU School of Medicine has risen to the challenge, showing students throughout the globe that it is possible to attend medical school online 

Whether you’re gearing up for online medical school classes or you plan to hit the books on campus, the rigor of training to become a doctor can be overwhelming to some. You can better prepare yourself by gleaning advice from physicians who have been there. Learn more by checking out our articleDoctors Offer Insider Tips on How to Study in Medical School.”  

 

 

Distance Learning at SGU School of Medicine

Distance Learning: Adapting to Online Medical School Classes

 

This article was originally written during the COVID-19 pandemic closures when SGU offered alternative flexible learning opportunities. The information below may no longer apply.

In this article, you’ll learn:  

  • What to expect from online medical school classes 
  • Whether online medical training is less effective 
  • How SGU supports online medical students 

COVID-19 has shifted the way we live, which also shifts the way we learn. But just because we need to map a new approach to medical education doesn’t mean doctors-in-training should receive an education any less comprehensive or experiential.  

The St. George’s University (SGU) School of Medicine has built robust and interactive distance learning programs for our basic science students. From live lectures and labs to integrated clinical skills training sessions served virtually, students will walk away from their distance learning experiences fully prepared to take the next step in their training to become a doctor.  

To give you a better idea of what you can expect from online medical school classes at SGU, we enlisted a handful of students to answer some of the questions you may have. 

3 Critical questions about online learning in medical school 

No one understands the necessity of making adjustments for the sake of public health quite like the medical community. But at SGU, we strongly maintain that our students’ dreams of becoming doctors shouldn’t be deterred due to unexpected campus closures and other global health protocols. 

As the School of Medicine continues to find innovative ways to bring our expertise and knowledge to our students attending online medical school courses, it’s vital for these future physicians to feel supported and properly prepared for their exams. Read on to learn how SGU has been rising to that challenge.  

1. What can I expect as an online medical student? 

The distance learning programs at SGU include multidisciplinary, clinical case-based, live small groups led by trained Doctor of Medicine (MD) facilitators. And, to make life even easier for online medical students, recordings and other resources are made available for self-paced, independent study.  

“My original small group grew very close, and they were extremely supportive and willing to help each other out,” shares SGU student Stephanie Chen. “It is this culture we created for one another that has enabled us to put our best foot forward and make the best out of the online learning experience.” 

Additional features of the online learning program include live content like lectures and interactive multiple-choice question sessions. This multi-layered approach helps provide a dynamic and social learning environment despite the virtual constraints. Students can participate in integrated clinical skills training in addition to a range of highly topical electives—and they can do so comfortably from a distance.  

“One thing I really enjoyed was taking things at a different pace than I had in Grenada,” SGU student Sibel Dikmen notes. “Surprisingly, I also made so many new friends—who I now study with daily—after moving to an online structure.” The flexibility offered by this distance learning format can actually become an advantage as you build the foundational knowledge and skills you’ll need to continue your training to become a doctor. 

“I feel that I have more time to study. I don’t have to account for time driving to/from campus or even just moving around campus from class to a study hall. It’s self-paced, so it’s easy to prioritize what you want in the order you want,” SGU student Claudia Muller Moran says. She found she was still able to foster close relationships with her classmates through group chats and various social platforms.  

2. Will I get the same quality of medical education from distance learning? 

The School of Medicine at SGU is committed to providing students with the unique, hands-on experience they’re expecting from medical school while attending their basic science courses online. This approach allows them to fully immerse themselves in the course material and the classroom experience from wherever they’re located.   

Online medical students will receive the same high-quality education as they would get on SGU’s campus in Grenada. With extensive distance learning resources, we’ve ensured our program meets the same criteria and rigorous academic standards the SGU School of Medicine has always upheld.   

Students can expect the following from their online medical education at SGU:  

  • Both synchronous and asynchronous lectures will be available to support different learning styles and enable a blended learning model. 
  • Directed learning resources and activities will involve high-quality images and animations customized and generated by SGU. 
  • Exposure to web-based scientific literature, faculty-developed videos, and other streamlined content formats. 
  • New clinical cases are constantly being added to the curriculum. 

This flexible, virtual approach to medical education offers SGU medical students high-level training in a way that fits the nuances of online learning. “I like the fact that you are able to set your own schedule and learn at your own pace, especially if there are recordings of the lectures,” Chen says. 

“It has definitely been something I did not expect to prefer. It not only gave me the flexibility to succeed academically, but it also allowed me to allocate time towards doing things I love, including reading, cooking healthy meals, and going biking with my partner,” she adds. She also explains that the unique sense of balance online medical school classes offered her allowed her to prioritize areas of self-care she may not have been able to on campus. 

3. How will I be supported by SGU while I’m learning online? 

The School of Medicine’s dedication to providing students with a strong support system and ample online learning resources is part of what makes SGU’s program stand out. Facilitating online medical school classes doesn’t change that.  

Our technologically competent faculty has substantial experience in virtual content delivery and instructing via platforms including Zoom, Skype, and Panopto. Through mastery of these and other tools, medical school faculty are enabled to fully engage with students while supporting their online learning.  

The school offers multiple electronic points of contact to allow students to speak regularly with faculty, making every effort to keep the communication lines open at all times. One-on-one, real-time appointments are available, in addition to live, facilitator-led small groups. The following online student resources are also offered:  

  • Open drop-in office hours 
  • Online discussion to fully support student learning 
  • Dedicated online academic advising for all students studying for the USMLE 
  • Special arrangements for small groups to support students in substantially different time zones 
  • Comprehensive IT support before and during exams 

In the same way the SGU School of Medicine has a robust range of support resources available to students studying at the Grenada campus, comprehensive support is also made available to those learning online.  

“The world needs leaders right now. It’s a truly amazing opportunity to be able to go to medical school and be a part of the social change that is occurring right in front of our eyes,” Chen says.  

Master medical school online with SGU 

As people across the world continuously adapt to a “new normal,” healthcare providers face an inevitable need to shift the way they deliver medical training. The SGU School of Medicine has risen to the challenge, showing students throughout the globe that it is possible to attend medical school online 

Whether you’re gearing up for online medical school classes or you plan to hit the books on campus, the rigor of training to become a doctor can be overwhelming to some. You can better prepare yourself by gleaning advice from physicians who have been there. Learn more by checking out our articleDoctors Offer Insider Tips on How to Study in Medical School.”