THE key to learning is that one should still be able to function even without technology, says Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Medicine and Health Sciences Faculty Assoc Prof Dr Lai Mei I.
Noting that critical thinking is cultivated through problem-solving, she said direct access to immediate answers often hampers this development.
“Allowing delayed gratification in terms of getting answers forces students to actively learn a particular topic.
“With the ease of ChatGPT these days, many students may just search for answers online without thinking,” she said.
She also stressed that relational and communication skills can only be developed through real-life interaction.
“The ability to notice subtle cues and body language – particularly crucial for future healthcare professionals – cannot be learnt through screens.
“Thus, non-digital learning methods, whether through educational games or physical classroom activities, still play a vital role in shaping competent, empathetic medical practitioners,” she said.
A believer in the efficacy of play, she said it builds relationships, nurtures problem-solving abilities, and enhances critical thinking.
“In this era, everyone is programmed to be busy, but we forget the value of play,” she noted.
She also expressed concern that the decline in play-based learning might be linked to broader societal issues such as loneliness and reduced creativity.
She added that for students in low-resource settings, non-digital games provide more opportunities for students to memorise key information better.
“It fosters long-term retention and communication.
“Students will be more confident of their answers because they must remember them and not have to pull out their phones every time they are asked a question,” she said.
“Learning does not stop just because we are disconnected from the outside world,” she concluded. – By JAAYNE JEEVITA
