Medicos find ‘smart’ learning easy at government medical college

Chennai: In a first-of-its kind in a government medical college, Government Stanley Medical College and Hospital has started opting for smart classrooms with interactive white boards. Dean of the college Dr S. Geethalakshmi said this would help in improving learning outcomes. The official launch of a smarter way to teach was held on Friday at the ENT OPD auditorium of the college.

Every year 250 undergrad medical students join the college and there are 450 post graduate students. Dr T. Balasubramanian, ENT head, said they had been using the conventional teaching method, but with the new smart whiteboard they would be taking teaching to the next level.

“The whiteboard has multi touch capabilities and so we can draw and can also record the lecture. Students can replay it too,” Dr Balasubramanian said, adding that instead of delivering the same lecture for every class, we can replay it any number of times.

Students of the college were thrilled when they were introduced to the new technology. “We can copy the lecture and play it in our laptop. This way we can understand the lectures better,” said a student.

At present, only the ENT auditorium has this facility that costs nearly Rs. 3 lakh. “We are planning to instal these smart boards in six lecture halls in our college. This way we can disseminate information easily and make students understand the complex chapters with ease,” the HoD added.

Apart from an interactive white board, the college also plans to broadcast lectures so that students in large numbers can be benefited. Teaching modules are also being prepared with the new technology in mind.

“Earlier affordability was the biggest issue. But with the new technology and the quality it offers, smart classrooms have become a necessity. Teaching will be in depth, interactive and also engaging,” Dr Balasub­ramanian concluded.