Web-Based Instruction and Face-to-Face Instruction of Physical Therapy Psychomotor Skills: Effects on Student Performance

Abstract

Online education continues to expand in its applications within the college classroom. Within the health professions, a vast majority of the curriculum requires students to learn hands-on, clinical skills, which have historically been taught in a face-to-face setting in which faculty demonstrate and students practice the skill. The literature examining the effect of Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI) on psychomotor skills is limited. The purpose of this pilot study was to compare student learning of clinical skills from online streamed video instruction versus traditional face-to-face instruction of physical therapy psychomotor examination and treatment skills of the cervical region. The results of this study indicate that the use of online streamed video may serve as an equally effective method of instruction of these selected psychomotor skills.