e-Learning in medical education: Guide supplement 32.5 – Viewpoint

e-Learning is now established as a fundamental component at all levels of contemporary healthcare education, from preregistration and undergraduate study, through to postgraduate training and continuing professional development (cpd). This viewpoint, which complements AMEE Guide No 32 (Ellaway & Masters 2008), will explore some critical aspects in harnessing e-learning to maximise its effectiveness in clinical and healthcare education. Many studies, guides and experts consider e-learning from a technical or technological perspective or are fashioned around teaching, or teachers, rather than learning. Whilst these are important, such a perspective often overlooks the learner, or the consequential impact of technical solutions upon learning. This viewpoint seeks to reassert the importance of the ‘student voice’ and of focusing upon the effectiveness of learning. Starting from the perspective of the learner it will consider the importance of context, the centrality of educational design and the roles and development