Comparison of Online Peer‐Assisted Learning and Faculty‐Led Teaching for Short Answer Questions

IntroductionPeer‐assisted learning (PAL) is a well‐recognised pedagogical approach in medical education; however, research on its effectiveness in online settings remains limited. Multiple‐choice questions have been the predominant method for assessing PAL outcomes, despite Short Answer Questions (SAQs) being the superior tool for evaluating knowledge. This study compares online peer and faculty teaching in enhancing medical students' higher‐order thinking skills and assesses students' perceptions of these methods.MethodsThird‐year medical students undergoing surgical placements were consented and recruited for the study. Three pre‐defined cohorts were randomised to the following arms: no intervention (n = 41), online PAL teaching (n = 37) and online faculty teaching (n = 35). Peer teaching was delivered by fourth‐year students (n = 6) and faculty teaching by Clinical Teaching Fellows (CTFs) (n = 6). Academic outcomes were assessed using end‐of‐block SAQ formatives, and teaching quality was evaluated using the validated SEEQ questionnaire. Knowledge gain and self‐perceived confidence were assessed through pre‐ and post‐session tests, validated with a reference group of learners.ResultsConsent for SAQ exam scores was obtained from n = 19 (no intervention), n = 29 (PAL) and n = 21 (CTF). No significant differences were seen between the groups (p = 0.650). SEEQ completion was n = 24 (PAL) and n = 30 (CTF). CTF tutors received significantly higher ratings in domains of Learning (p = 0.017) and Group Interaction (p = 0.036). Pre‐ and post‐session tests showed no significant differences in scores (p = 0.957) or self‐perceived confidence ratings (p = 0.454).ConclusionThis study shows that online PAL is a viable alternative to faculty‐led teaching for enhancing SAQ skills and knowledge acquisition. However, faculty‐led teaching offers a superior educational experience.