scholarly journals Student-led seminar as a teaching learning technique to introduce first year medical undergraduate students to self-directed learning

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-63
Author(s):  
Niket Verma ◽  
Navita Aggarwal ◽  
Harsimranjit Singh

: Student-led seminar (SLS) is an interactive peer-led teaching learning method which offers several advantages for both the student learners and the student tutors including helping the learners to develop self-directed learning (SDL) skills. The aim of this study was to analyze the perception of first year medical undergraduate students towards a recently conducted SDL module in Anatomy utilizing student-led seminars as the teaching learning technique. Participation in the study was voluntary and all 100 first year students consented to participate in the study. Informed consent was taken from the participants. The module was implemented across 2 sessions. In session 1, a clinical case scenario on Shoulder Joint was discussed. Students were then asked to identify knowledge gaps and brainstorm in small groups to formulate the learning objectives. Session 2 was conducted as a student-led seminar after a 6-day gap. Student perception was then obtained using a Google Forms based questionnaire.: Thematic analysis was conducted for the responses. Major themes that emerged were that the participants learnt, enjoyed and felt motivated. Students appreciated the role played by the facilitators in guiding them and some of the respondents wanted to take up leadership roles for their teams in future sessions. As medical educators, we should not only encourage the acquisition of SDL skills by the learners but also provide a conducive environment for self-directed learning. To our experience the student-led seminar can be an excellent teaching-learning method for incorporating SDL skills among undergraduate medical learners.

2019 ◽  
Vol 08 (02) ◽  
pp. 066-070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehul Tandel ◽  
Daxa Kanjiya ◽  
Neeraj Vedi ◽  
Deepak Sharma ◽  
Praveen Singh ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Human cadaveric dissection is considered as a core teaching tool and plays a major role in active learning process of students. However, students’ active participation and self-directed learning in dissection hall has declined over the period of time. Group discussion in dissection hall allows students to participate actively, engage in cooperative interaction, communicate effectively, and utilize self-directed learning. Therefore, group discussion has been introduced and assessed as a teaching-learning method in dissection with the aim of improving participation, learning, and communication skill of students in dissection hall. Methods This study was conducted on 100 students of Pramukhswami Medical College, Karamsad, Anand, Gujarat, India, during the 2018–2019 academic year. Students were divided in 10 groups for dissection. Group discussion was introduced as a teaching-learning method and assessed during dissection. Data were collected through anonymous feedback and then statistically analyzed. Result There was significant increase in active participation of most students during dissection: 79% students rated this method as good or excellent; 51 to 74% students agreed that this method helped them in better understanding of subject, improving dissection skills and communication; and 68% students agreed that working in group is better as compared with traditional method of dissection. The Cronbach's alpha of feedback questionnaire was 0.816. Conclusion Students perceived that the group discussion during dissection not only helped in creating active participation and better understanding of subject but also helped improve learning, communication, and dissection skills.


Author(s):  
Anandhalakshmi Swaminathan ◽  
Sahityan Viswanathan ◽  
Thilipkumar Gnanadurai ◽  
Saravanan Ayyavoo ◽  
Thirunavukarasu Manickam

2021 ◽  
Vol 59 (235) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pratibha Manandhar ◽  
Naresh Manandhar ◽  
Sunil Kumar Joshi

Introduction: Vitamin D also known as the sunshine vitamin, helps in bone metabolism and calcium homeostasis. It is estimated that one billion people in the world have vitamin D deficiency making it a public health problem. The objective of this study is to find out the knowledge regarding vitamin D among first-year medical undergraduate students of a medical college. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out from 2nd February 2020 to 15th February 2020 at Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital, Duwakot among medical undergraduate students of a medical college. Ethical clearance was received from the Institutional Review Committee of Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital (Reference Number: 2812201809). A structured self-designed multiple-choice questionnaire on vitamin D knowledge was used. Convenient sampling method was applied and statistical analysis was done with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 20 version. Results: Out of total 157 undergraduate medical students, 21 (13.3%) exhibited good knowledge, 116 (73.9.8%) had average, and 20 (12.8%) had poor knowledge. There were 83 (52.9%) Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery students, 39 (24.8%) were Bachelor of Dental Surgery and 35 (22.3%) were Nursing students. Conclusions: We found a satisfactory level of knowledge of vitamin D among first-year undergraduate medical students of a medical college when compared to similar studies. The majority of students from all three disciplines had average knowledge of vitamin D.


2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. e37105
Author(s):  
Dr. Preethi J Shenoy ◽  
Dr. Rashmi R Rao

AIMS: Small group teaching in Pharmacology offers an effective platform to encourage interaction amongst peers and self-directed learning. The present study is an attempt to assess and compare the effectiveness and perception of students on two different pedagogical methods: Crossword puzzles and Student Led Objective Tutorials (SLOT).METHODS: Second year undergraduate students who gave their informed consent were divided randomly into two groups: one which received crossword puzzle as a teaching learning method and the other had SLOT during which the students conducted an interactive quiz with multiple choice questions prepared by themselves. The students’ perceptions were recorded using a self-administered questionnaire. One week later, a unit test was conducted for both the groups and the performance of the students was compared. Statistical analysis was done using independent Student’s T test with SPSS version 15.0.RESULTS: Analyses revealed a statistical significant difference (P<0.001) between the mean marks obtained in the SLOT group (n= 74; 6.5±3.8) and the marks obtained in the crossword group (n= 87; 4.2±2.9), with the students in the tutorial group performing better. The students opined that SLOT sessions helped them to understand Pharmacology better whereas crossword sessions enabled them to memorize the names of the drugs.CONCLUSION: The present study revealed that SLOT sessions fared better compared to the crossword puzzles in terms of improving the students’ test scores. It fostered teamwork, self-directed learning skills and critical thinking. Crossword puzzles make the session more student friendly as it is fun and engaging but a careful design is inevitable as it may fail to test in-depth learning in students.


Author(s):  
Elizabeth DaMaren ◽  
Danielle Pearlston ◽  
Stephen Mattucci

Reimagined curriculum models offer new possibilities for embedding durable competencies into the curriculum, including critical reflection, which promotes the development of self-directed learning skills. However, students often perceive these skills as unimportant with pre-existing biases focusing on technical content as the core of engineering.  The primary goal of this work was to identify key considerations when integrating critical reflection into engineering curricula, specifically in the context of first-year engineering, to promote the development of student self-directed learning skills.  This work was framed within the Students-as-Partners (SaP) approach, where two undergraduate students worked in collaboration with the instructor. To gather information regarding student perceptions of critical reflection, focus groups were conducted for first-year engineering students and students familiar with reflection.  Qualitative thematic analysis was performed on the focus group data and key insights were identified and categorized into five themes: approaches, supporting students, evaluation and framing, development pathway and value, and reflection for engineers. Suggested learning outcomes, student activities, and evaluation methods are proposed. These findings are applicable to implementing reflection across a variety of academic settings, as they highlight main considerations and challenges faced with reflection from the perspective of students in multiple programs. 


Author(s):  
Elizabeth Kuley ◽  
Sean Maw ◽  
Terry Fonstad

This paper focuses on feedback received from a set of qualitative questions that were administered to undergraduate students in the College of Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan, as part of a larger mixed methods study. The larger study aims to identify what characteristics, if any, can predict or are related to student success; The “start-stop-continue” method was utilized to assess student perceptions about  their success in the college as a whole. The students were asked: Are there any specific things that you can think of that act/acted as barriers to your success in engineering (stop)? What could the college do/change to make first year more successful for engineering students (start)? Is there anything in your engineering degree so far that you feel is done well and helps students succeed (continue)? Students identified the quality of instruction early in their program as well as adjustment to college workloads and self-directed learning as the most significant barriers tostudent success.


2009 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 283-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinlu Wu

Assessment plays a crucial role in the learning process, but current assessments focus on assessment of learning rather than assessment for learning. In this study, a novel method for open-book continuous assessment (CA) was developed. The aim was to encourage students to learn beyond the textbook by challenging students with questions linked to a research article. Research articles closely related to lecture contents were selected and released to students before the CA for perusal. CA questions were set at three different levels to assess conceptual understanding, application, and synthesis. The CA was administered to first-year undergraduate students majoring in life science as part of Molecular Genetics, a compulsory module. It contributed 10% of the student's grade for the module. Students’ CA scores indicated that the majority could answer correctly all the questions. Students’ feedback on the CA showed that most of them praised the CA model for its novelty, motivation, and application. Only a few criticized it due to its poor coverage of lecture contents. Overall, this CA went beyond the traditional role of assessments in the assignment of scores and stimulated curiosity and self-directed learning.


Author(s):  
G. Francis Britto ◽  
K. R. Subash

Background: Pharmacology teaching by conventional method is by didactic lectures and practical sessions. To cultivate interest and motivate students towards self directed learning, the best tool in teaching learning methodology available is case based learning. Aims and objective of the study was to analyze the effectiveness and acceptance of case based learning (CBL) of pharmacology among M.B.B.S Students.Methods: The second year M.B.B.S Students of the academic year 2014 and 2015 were enrolled in the study. Clinical case scenario was formulated as modules based on the common clinical cases which the student observe and encounter in clinical postings in wards. The students were divided in to four groups, 30 in each group with one facilitator. Each module of case based learning was evaluated with pre test and post test. The student perception was recorded by a five point likert scale feedback questionnaire at the end of the study.Results: The post test scores in all modules revealed significant improvement in student’s performance by CBL method when compared using “paired t test”. Majority of the students preferred more CBL sessions for rest of the academic year.Conclusions: Students centred pharmacology teaching by CBL method creates self-directed learning environment to explore more for better understanding and application of the theoretical knowledge gained towards clinical practice.


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