Effectiveness and student perspective of a pilot effort in team based learning in pharmacology for medical undergraduate

Authors

  • Nayana K. Hashilkar Department of Pharmacology, KLE University’s J. N. Medical College, Belagavi, Karnataka, India
  • Mark H. Gelula Department of Medical Education, University of Illinois,College of Medicine,Chicago,USA
  • Netravathi B. Angadi Department of Pharmacology, KLE University’s J. N. Medical College, Belagavi, Karnataka, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20162444

Keywords:

Effectiveness, Student perspective, TBL, Pharmacology

Abstract

Background: Teaching in pharmacology is passive with less emphasis on clinical application. There is a need to incorporate newer instructional designs. Team based learning (TBL) is one such new strategy that encourages peer interaction and self-directed learning. The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of team based learning to teach pharmacology to medical undergraduates as compared to tutorials. The secondary objective was to obtain the students attitudes regarding their experience.

Methods: The entire regular batch of MBBS in pharmacology was randomly divided into two groups. Four topics pertaining to cardiovascular system were selected that were notified to both the groups well in advance. One group received TBL as the instructional strategy while the other group had conventional tutorials dominated by a tutor. At the end of the cardiovascular module, a written test was conducted to assess the effectiveness of TBL and the mean scores of both the groups were analysed using unpaired t-test. The students were requested to provide feedback regarding their experience using a feedback form.

Results: The mean scores of the TBL group were significantly more as compared to the conventional tutorial group. The students in their feedback about the new teaching-learning strategy appreciated the group dynamics, team work and expressed their willingness for continuing TBL for rest of the topics in pharmacology.

Conclusions: Team-Based Learning is an effective teaching-learning method to teach pharmacology to medical undergraduates. It encourages pre-class preparation, student’s participation in small teams and improves their basic knowledge as well as skills of critical thinking.

References

Kwan CY. Problem - based learning and teaching of medical pharmacology. Naunyn Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol. 2002;366:10-7.

Parmelee DX, DeStephene D, Borges NJ. Medical students attitudes about team- based learning in a pre-clinical curriculum. Medical Education Online. 2009;14:1.

Medical council of India-salient features of regulation on graduate medical education in Part III, Section 4 of the Gazette of India dated 17th May 1997. Available at http:/mciinndia.org/know/rules/rules-mbbs.htm.

Thompson BM, Schneider VF, Haidet P, Levine RE, McMahon KK, Perkowski LC, et al. Team-based learning at ten medical schools: two years later. Medical Education. 2007;41:250-7.

Dinan FJ, Frydrychowski VA. A team learning method for organic chemistry. J chem. Education. 1995;72:429-31.

Mennenga HA, Smymer T. A model for easily incorporating team-based learning into nursing education. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship. 2010;7(4):1-13.

Shankar N, Roopa R. Evaluation of a modified team based learning method for teaching general embryology to 1st year medical graduate students. Indian Journal of Medical Science. 2009;63:4-12.

Michaelsen LK. Three keys to using learning in groups effectively. Ames (IA) (professional and organizational development network essay series teaching excellence; Toward the best in the Academy. 1998;9:c1997.

Dunway GA. Adaption of team learning to an introductory graduate pharmacology course. Teaching and Learning in Medicine. 2005;17:36-42.

Haidet P, O’Malley KJ, Richards B. An initial experience with “team learning” in medical education. Academic Medicine. 2002;77:40-4.

Marshall L, Nykamp D. Active-learning assignments to integrate basic science and clinical course material. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. 2010;74:119.

Grady SE, Team-based learning in pharmacotherapeutics. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. 2011;75:136.

Michaelsen LK, Bauman KA, Fink LD. Team-based learning: a transformative use of small groups in college teaching. Sterling (VA): Stylus Publishing; 2004.

Downloads

Published

2017-01-05

How to Cite

Hashilkar, N. K., Gelula, M. H., & Angadi, N. B. (2017). Effectiveness and student perspective of a pilot effort in team based learning in pharmacology for medical undergraduate. International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, 5(4), 1413–1416. https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20162444

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles