Integrating Ultrasound Teaching into Preclinical Problem-based Learning

BackgroundTo develop the skills needed in health care teams, training communication and teamwork skills are important in medical education. Small group collaborative learning is one of the methods utilized in such trainings, and peer evaluation is suggested to be useful in reinforcing the effectiveness of group learning activities. In Mie University Faculty of Medicine, group work consisting of book review sessions of liberal arts education in the first grade and problem-based learning (PBL) sessions in preclinical years were conducted using the same peer evaluation system that included three domains: degree of prior learning, contribution to group discussion, and cooperative attitude. This study was conducted to determine the relationships among behaviors during group work and the academic achievement of medical students.MethodsWith the data from a cohort of medical students in three consecutive academic years (n = 340), peer evaluation scores in groupworks of book review sessions, those in PBL sessions and paper test scores of preclinical years were analyzed. The correlations were analyzed with Spearman’s correlation coefficient, and the respective scores were compared by using the Wilcoxon signed-ranked test.ResultsSignificant correlations were observed among the evaluation scores of respective domains in group work and paper test scores. The degree of prior learning had the strongest relationship among the three domains (rs = 0.355, p < 0.001 between book review sessions and PBL; rs = 0.338, p < 0.001 between book review sessions and paper test score; rs = 0.551, p < 0.001 between PBL and paper test score). Peer evaluation scores of respective domains were found to be significantly higher in PBL.ConclusionMedical students maintained their groupwork behaviors to some extent from early school to preclinical years. Those behaviors were positively related to their academic achievement in the later years of the medical education curriculum. Our study highlighted the importance of the early introduction of group work. The results will be useful to motivate medical students to put more effort into group work.

Carle Illinois College of Medicine.

Objectives:To evaluate students’ perception towards the problem based learning (PBL) session in a system-based hybrid curriculum.Methods:We conducted a cross-sectional study in the College of Medicine, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia at the end of the 2012-2013 academic year. The survey questionnaire was self-administered, and examined perceptions of PBL session benefits, appropriate running of sessions, and tutor’s roles.Results:Out of 510 students, 275 (53.9%) completed the questionnaire. Most of the students reported that PBL sessions were helpful in understanding basic sciences concepts (p=0.04). In addition, they agreed that PBL sessions increased their knowledge of basic sciences (p=0.01). Most students reported that PBL sessions encouraged self-directed learning, collaborative learning, and improved decision making skills. However, 54.5% of students reported lack of proper training before starting the PBL sessions, and only 25.1% of students agreed that the teaching staff are well prepared to run the sessions. Most students used the internet (93.1%), lecture notes (76.7%), and books (64.4%) as learning resources. Most students reported repetition of topics between PBL sessions and lectures (p=0.07).Conclusion:The study highlighted the significant role of PBL in a system-based hybrid curriculum and helped students improve their knowledge and different learning skills. Students and staff training is required before the utilizing the PBL as an instructional method.

BackgroundProblem-based learning (PBL) involves discussions among students who resolve loosely-structured problems to facilitate learning. In the PBL curriculum, faculty tutors are employed as facilitators for small groups of students. Because of lack of time and staff shortage, the effectiveness of tutorless PBL has been discussed as an alternate option.MethodsSessions in which tutored and tutorless PBL groups are mixed were presented by 1st-year medical students, who experienced both tutored and tutorless groups alternately in the two sessions of a year. To examine the effectiveness of tutored and tutorless PBL, written examination scores (WES) and self-contentment scores (SCS) were statistically analysed.ResultsWES averages did not significantly differ between the tutored and tutorless groups; however, a significantly greater variation was observed in WES in the tutorless group. SCS averages tended to be higher in the tutored PBL than in tutorless PBL groups.ConclusionsStudents in these tutorless PBL groups performed well in their written examinations, whereas those in the tutored PBL groups, achieved this and reported better self-contentment with their learning experience. Tutorless PBL sessions were considered to be comparable to tutored PBL sessions at least in the early stages.

Cultivating communication through PBL with ICT

2007 Leadership Academy for Educators

Problem-based learning (PBL) has emerged as an important alternative or supplement to traditional lecture methods of teaching. In a PBL setting, student teams face challenging situations or cases, and the teams are expected to develop and recommend solutions. This article discusses the application of PBL to a class of 100 students enrolled in a required course in hospitality law. The case that was used involved a resort housekeeper being sexually harassed by a maintenance worker. The article reports on the experience with PBL, including problems, student evaluations, and recommendations for future PBL endeavors. Times change, and what were effective teaching methods may no longer be as effective with today's college students. The lecture method has been fundamental to higher education in the United States. The method is particularly helpful in delivering information to large numbers of students. From an efficiency standpoint, what could be better than one professor teaching a hundred or more students in one class? Problem-based learning (PBL) has emerged in educational circles as an important alternative to or supplement to lecturing. PBL engages students by confronting them with problems that they must resolve through analysis, the discovery of relevant information, and the application of that information. Students become active learners in a PBL setting, whereas students are expected to be passive in a lecture setting. This article reports on an experiment using problem-based learning to teach a required undergraduate course in hospitality law. The discussion begins with a review of the literature on PBL and then proceeds to discuss the background that led to the experiment. The article explains the overall course structure, including how problem-based learning was incorporated into a class of approximately 100 students. The problem-based learning portion utilized a web-based case set at a fictional resort. As is explained in the article, the students had two major sets of assignments based on the case spread out over fall semester 2001. The discussion concludes with an analysis of pre- and post-surveys of the students and a critique of various problems that were encountered. Recommendations for the future are included.

Problem-Based Learning Curriculum as a Tool to Increase Medical Student Exposure to Radiation Oncology

Globalization of Problem-based Learning (PBL): Cross-cultural Implications

Objective:Collaborative Problem Solving Empirical Progressions from the Assessment and Teaching of 21st Century Skills (ATC21S) framework were used to determine the level of collaborative problem solving skills (CPS) in first, second and third year MBBS students at Ziauddin College of Medicine during Problem-Based Learning (PBL) sessions. Variations based on gender and roles were studied.Methods:It is an analytical comparative cross-sectional study in which seven PBL groups were selected per year by non-probability convenient sampling. Data was collected using the Collaborative Problem Solving Five Strands Empirical Progressions by the primary investigator through observation of the students during PBL sessions. Duration of study was six months.Results:We found that in our students, development of social dimension skills is facilitated to a greater extent than the development of cognitive dimension skills through the process of PBL. These skills are generally better developed in the leader compared to the scribe and members in a group. They are also more developed in females compared to males. Modification in them is also observed as the year's progress.Conclusion:Although PBLs facilitate development of CPS skills' progression however in our curriculum, PBLs mainly focus on social skills development and have less emphasis on cognitive skill development. Thus, hybrid instructional strategies with components from TBL and mentorship are recommended for better development of CPS skills.

Today’s sprouting medical technology demands that students are more innovative in their approach towards medical practice. Problem based learning (PBL) has proven to be one of the most efficacious disciplines aimed at improving problem-solving skills and self-directed learning. The objective of this study was to review students’ perspectives on the implementation and effectiveness of PBL at Avalon University School of Medicine (AUSOM). A cross-sectional questionnaires survey was conducted among basic science students with qualitative and quantitative questionnaires. The response recorded and the data analysed using Stata-15 (StataCorp LLC). Most students believed PBL was beneficial to learning. 82.18% (n=83) agreed that they benefited from PBL and 91.09 % (n=92) were in concordance PBL provided a positive learning environment to enhance their understanding. The most important objectives of PBL identified by the students were to improve the presentation skills, enhance depth of understanding and develop critical thinking. PBL is helpful in improving students understanding of the basic medical science courses, allowing for self-improvement. PBL allows students to actively engage in the collaborative active learning process. It is imperative PBL should be introduced early in pre-clinical years and implemented effectively to enhance the learning environment with the favourable outcome.

BackgroundStudents' perception of their educational environment has a significant impact on their behavior and academic progress. The recent worldwide usage of innovative problem-based learning (PBL) medical programs requires major changes in medical schools and their environments. Therefore, measuring students' perceptions of the complex PBL environment has become a critical necessity as a determinant of students' academic success and as a part of attaining the quality standards of education. Ours being a new medical college employing the PBL curriculum, it was important to measure the students' perception of the educational environment in order to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the curriculum and to plan for any future improvements.Aim and ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate students' perceptions in the preclinical phase of the PBL educational environment in the College of Medicine, Sharjah Medical College, United Arab Emirates, and to recommend remedial procedures.Material and MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, the English version of the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) inventory was submitted to 250 students in years 1, 2, and 3. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 20 software, and significance was taken at P ≤ 0.05. The survey was performed in a mid-semester week, ie, in March 2014. No ethical issues were encountered during the process of this study.ResultsTwo-hundred and fifty students responded to the questionnaire (100% response rate). The overall DREEM score was 113.4/200 (56.7%). First-year students expressed higher overall significant level of perception (119.4/200) than second-year (107.4/200) and third-year (112.7/200) students. In addition, first-year students perceived their learning, teaching, and academic climates as more significant than the other two batches. The scores obtained in the five domains were as follows; 28/48 in perception of learning, 26/44 in perception of teaching, 18/32 in academic self-perceptions, 27/48 in perceptions of atmosphere, and 15/28 in social self-perceptions. First-year students achieved the highest score (18.7/32) in the academic self-perception, and second-year students achieved the lowest (16.5/32). The total score was significantly higher in female students than in male students (115.9 vs 108.1).ConclusionsThe present study revealed that the PBL environment is generally perceived positively by our medical students. Female students exhibited higher perception than male students. Nevertheless, areas such as curriculum overload and inadequate student support still require further fine-tuning and remedial measures.

Objective To explore the application of problem-based learning (PBL) combined with simulated standardized patient (SP) teaching mode in teaching diagnostics of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods From March 2016 to March 2017, 153 students in three classes of undergraduate clinical medicine specialty in grade 2013 were selected as the subjects of study, who were taught by the same professor in the theoretical courses, and the teaching contents were all about the diagnostic methods of AMI. The students were randomly divided into control group, PBL group and experimental group with 51 cases in each group. The control group received traditional teaching mode, the PBL group received PBL and theoretical teaching mode, and the experimental group received PBL and SP teaching mode. The theoretical results, medical record writing, students′ satisfaction and teachers′ satisfaction with students′ performance were compared among the three groups. Results The scores of medical record writing [(80.56±7.23)points] and theoretical knowledge [(79.84±5.63)points] in the experimental group were higher than those in the PBL group [(76.24±6.45)points, (74.28±5.05)points] and control group [(70.21±6.13)points, (69.56±4.89)points]. The differences were statistically significant (F1=31.45, 49.95, all P<0.01). The scores of physical examination [(17.38±1.27)points], medical history [(49.47±1.34)points] and chief complaint [(16.82±0.67)points] of the experimental group were higher than those of PBL group [(14.23±1.06)points, (44.88±1.21)points, (13.26±0.54)points] and control group [(11.55±0.98)points, (40.52±1.04)points, (10.97±0.61)points]. The differences were statistically significant (F=352.43, 705.92, 1 195.02, all P<0.01). Teachers′ satisfaction with students′ performance in the experimental group was (42/51, 82.35%) higher than that in the PBL group (60.78%, 37/51) and the control group (43.14%, 22/51) (χ2=16.72, P<0.01). Conclusion The application of PBL combined with SP teaching mode in teaching diagnostics of AMI can effectively improve students′ learning enthusiasm and initiative, improve students′ and teachers′ satisfaction, improve teacher-student relationship and teaching quality. Key words: Problem-based learning; Standardized patient; Myocardial infarction; Diagnostics; Satisfaction

Background: Since its establishment in 2005, the national university -Sudan (NUSU) has adopted problem- based learning (PBL) as an educational strategy and a teaching method. The increasing number of student's intake every year and the turnover of staff had affected the way PBL sessions were conducted. Therefore, in 2014 a task-force was formed by the faculty of medicine to address the issue. Objectives: to investigate the status of PBL in the faculty of medicine and propose required measures. Methodology: A task force was formed by the faculty board. It consisted of a medical educationalist, a senior physician, and a physiologist. The group investigated the organization and implementation of PBL. It reviewed the current practice including the timetables, the problem scenarios and the students' attendance records. Results: Most of the problem scenarios had no clear source or objectives. The implementation of PBL sessions depended on part-time tutors. There was no structured program for training of tutors. The students 'attendance for PBL sessions was notably poor. Conclusion: The task force presented their report including a proposal for actions to be taken. Training workshops for tutors were organized and timetables were restructured to properly accommodate PBL as an active learning method. Implementation of PBL requires continuous support for training of academic staff and provision of learning resources for the students. The use of e-learning should be considered as a future measure to increase the learning opportunities for students and as a solution to the issue of large groups teaching.

BackgroundProblem-based learning (PBL) is widely recognized as an effective method for enhancing critical thinking and communication skills in medical education. However, in first-year medical students, the specific and detailed effects have yet to be explored, especially across resource-rich and resource-limited educational settings.ObjectiveThe scoping review evaluates the effects of problem-based learning on the development of critical thinking and communication skills of first-year medical students and compares the effectiveness of the method in resource-rich and resource-limited environments.MethodsThis scoping review followed Arksey and O’Malley’s framework. A systematic search of the literature was conducted on Google Scholar, PubMed, and ProQuest for studies published between 2015 and 2024. Included studies were screened according to the defined criteria, and data were extracted on study characteristics, interventions, and outcomes measured.ResultsA total of eight studies were found that met inclusion criteria: only one among them exclusively studied first-year students. The results of this cross-sectional study (with a descriptive self-report questionnaire) found that first-year students have a positive attitude toward PBL since they reported the following: high engagement (97%) and improved teamwork (87%). The included studies reported that PBL was associated with perceived improvements in critical thinking and communication skills among undergraduate medical students in both resource-limited and resource-rich educational environment. There were methodological variations, and some regions were entirely unrepresented. All the reviewed studies were published in Asia, with no studies from Africa.ConclusionThe reviewed studies suggest that PBL may be associated with perceived improvements in critical thinking and communication skills; however, findings remain tentative due to methodological and contextual limitations.