The medical education system has evolved over the years with notable changes. For example, earlier, it was difficult for medical students to get hands-on experience. In contrast, current medical students can get this experience with VR medical training.
Firstly, we need to look at the larger market size of medical education.
• According to Verified Market Research, in 2020, the medical education domain had a value of USD 31.55 billion.
• Moreover, by 2028, it is said to reach USD 41.38 billion.
There have been many significant changes, and they seem to continue with more advancement in various sectors. In this post, you will read about some crucial trends that influence or are vital in medical education and training.
Trends in medical education
For years and years, there has been exponential growth in medical education and training. Thus medical institutes have given sound professionals and experts in every field. Keeping that constant, there are some trends that tend to take medical education to the next level. Let us know about a few of them.
Hybrid learning
Traditional learning is based on the pen-paper method. You may have heard from a friend in medical education about how heavy books they are supposed to go through. Well, this scenario won’t exactly change; there can be some exciting ways to learn apart from traditional methods. Hybrid learning is one of th
In hybrid education, both online and offline mediums are used to train students. Either some students can learn offline and some online, or the system can incorporate online learning tools for all. Both offline and online learning has their benefits. Hybrid learning combines them to bring out the best in both.
Hybrid learning offers a flexible experience. Also, it sets up comprehensive communication and growth opportunities. Moreover, with hybrid learning, resources are used properly.
Use of technologies
The use of technologies plays a significant role in education. To name a few, virtual reality, augmented reality, e-learning, video learning, and artificial intelligence enrich the educational experience.
For example, artificial intelligence brings personalization to medical education. Moreover, artificial intelligence helps physicians in managing data to improve their decision-making. Therefore, a group of researchers from Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands, believe that future professionals should be trained in the same technology they will use to treat patients. Furthermore, they suggest the framework to include artificial intelligence in the curriculum.
Further, let us know about a few more technologies that support and improve medical education.
Augmented reality
Augmented reality is another technology that nurtures medical education. It improves students’ knowledge in the implementation area. Moreover, it helps them to develop professional as well as cognitive skills. Many educational areas such as anatomy, medicines, and therapies have the benefits of using augmented reality in training. Furthermore, augmented reality can be experienced via gadgets or simply a smartphone. Therefore, for students, it is easy and engaging to have gadget-based learning.
Virtual reality
Virtual reality is widely used in the education domain.
• According to Fortune Business Insights, in 2018, the worldwide market for virtual reality in education had a value of USD 656.6 million.
• Furthermore, by 2026, it is said to have a value of USD 13,098.2 million.
Such a wide leap is only possible when technology has a lot of potential to drive the education system. When we talk about virtual reality in medical education, the benefits are significant. Since VR is known for its immersive experience, it helps medical students with exceptional values.
For example, a virtual simulator can help students to gain experience in handling medical diagnoses in various conditions. Also, VR-based anatomy labs or virtual reality-oriented surgery experiments can avail students to perform a surgery without any risk, which otherwise would not have been possible.
Another benefit of virtual reality in medical training is cost savings. Medical instruments and tools are costly. Also, when students are given an opportunity to learn, they may not be able to get hands-on experience. Virtual reality can provide students with this experience by letting them practice in a virtual environment. Moreover, virtual reality saves costs as even if students are practicing repetitively, the tools used are virtual.
Metaverse
Metaverse is booming in every field.
• According to Globe News Wire, the worldwide metaverse industry had a value of USD 337.23 million in 2020.
• Also, its reach is expected to touch USD 1003.06 million by 2030.
Even the education domain has been a part of its growth.
• According to Globe News Wire, the worldwide market for metaverse in education was USD 4.9 billion in 2021, and it may reach USD 94.9 billion by 2030.
The metaverse is a combination of many powerful technologies. It combines augmented reality, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and whatnot! .
It benefits students by allowing them to interact with each other. Thus metaverse will promote immersive learning in higher education supports peer communication. Since it contains virtual reality and augmented reality, immersive experience of both is included in the metaverse for medical education. Moreover, it can develop team skills. In the healthcare field, a lot of synchronization is required to treat a certain condition or even for surgery.
In such times, social interaction or team-building skills developed in metaverse education can have an impact. The metaverse is yet to explore growth in medical training since it is a new technology. However, it has significant potential.
What are the challenges?
When any educational trend is in boom, it follows a challenge of implementation. For example, let us take an example of a virtual laboratory for surgery. When a student is to be trained in this, a teacher should understand the ins and outs of the technology to make learning smooth. Another example is metaverse medical education. Though there are many benefits of metaverse to medical education, its implementation requires developing a robust technological system o educational platform which leads to significant investment.
Conclusion
A challenge follows every benefit. However, this is how any trend grows. Whatever trend you would like to follow; augmented reality, e-learning, or VR classroom, connect with notable solution providers to make this incorporation smooth.