The use of brainstorming for teaching human anatomy

A heutagogical interactive tutorial involving Fishbowl with Fish Battle and Round Robin Brainstorming: A novel syndicate metacognitive learning strategy

Background

The increasing tutorial size poses every teacher with the problem of student attention and participation; hence, newer strategies are needed to engage adult learners into cooperative learning. This study aims to assess the knowledge gained and retained and perceptions of students using an interactive syndicate learning style tutorial vis-a-vis conventional tutorials.

Methods

A quasi-experimental crossover study was conducted wherein students of phase 1 MBBS physiology tutorials were divided into two batches (interactive tutorials involving learning Fishbowl with Fish Battle and Round Robin Brainstorming and conventional didactic tutorials), with 65 students in each over 3 days. In the interactive tutorial group, students were seated in 2 concentric circles, the inner circle engaged in Fish Battle (a seminar followed by rebuttal), whereas the remaining students belonged to the Round Robin Brainstorming (outer circle) group, wherein brainstorming using index cards was carried out and a mind map was prepared, followed by a summary. Both batches underwent the pre- and post-MCQ test followed by the crossover study the subsequent week. For testing retention, an Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) test was conducted after 3 weeks. In the end, 5 physiology tutorial modules were completed.

Results

There was a statistical improvement in the post-test scores (9.7%) gain in the Interactive Tutorial (IT) group as compared with the Conventional Tutorial (CT) group. Of the students, 56% retained the topics after undergoing IT compared with CT. Around (90%) students felt improved conceptual thinking, and 92% felt it encompassed active learning.

Conclusion

Interactive tutorials involving such learning styles facilitate active self-determined learning, develop mutual interdependence, equal representation, and group dynamics as adult learners, and transform them into lifelong critical thinkers.

Evaluation of Brainstorming Session as a Teaching-learning Tool among Postgraduate Medical Biochemistry Students

Background:

The thrust for postgraduate teaching should be self-directed learning with equal participation by all students in academic discussions. Group discussions involve conduction of the discourse by a leader who guides the discussion as well as points out any wrong information. This discourages quieter students from participation with the fear of rebuke. Brainstorming is devoid of all such fallacies with no judgment and reprimand.

Aim:

The aim of this study was to use brainstorming as a teaching-learning tool among postgraduate students of medical biochemistry.

Materials and Methods:

The project was commenced after due approvals from the research and ethical committee. The participants were enrolled after informed consent and sensitization. All the pro forma and questionnaires were duly validated by experts. After piloting and incorporation of the suggestions for improvisation, the main sessions were planned and implemented. The response was judged by posttest scores and feedback forms.

Results:

There was an improvement of understanding of the biochemical concepts as assessed by the posttest scores and solving of a similar clinical problem. The students expressed satisfaction with the conduction, timing, and discussion of the clinical problems. The drawbacks of traditional teaching as expressed during the feedback stage were also taken care of by the brainstorming sessions.

Conclusions:

Our project made the students and the faculty aware about the utility of brainstorming for teaching purposes in medical education which till now was considered efficacious only for troubleshooting in advertising and management institutions. The students were satisfied with this technique for understanding of biochemical concepts.

Perceptions and Attitudes of First-Year Medical Students on a Modified Team-Based Learning (TBL) Strategy in Anatomy

OBJECTIVES

Although team-based learning (TBL) is widely used in medical education, its evaluation from the perspectives of the students exposed to it has been limited. This paper reports on a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of perceptions of first year medical students towards TBL.

METHODS

Lectures in an anatomy course were transformed into a series of TBL sessions for two cohorts of first-year medical students. Each session consisted of pre-class reading, in-class readiness assurance tests, and problem-solving of clinical cases by student teams. At the end of each course, students were surveyed using qualitative and quantitative instruments to assess their perceptions of the strategy. Internal consistency of questionnaire items was determined by a reliability analysis (Cronbach's alpha). Principal component factor analysis and correspondence analysis were conducted on the quantitative data. Open-ended questions were explored by thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Students' evaluations indicated that TBL is a welcome alternative to lecture-based teaching; as implemented in this study, it encouraged clinical problem solving and fruitful in-class discussion. Principal component factor analysis identified five factors (Cronbach's alpha 0.602-0.875). However, the majority of students disapproved of mixed gender TBL teams. Most students agreed that the strategy facilitated consistency in their study, generated an increased awareness about self-directed learning, and had a positive impact on their learning attitudes.

CONCLUSION

TBL is a welcome instructional strategy as reported by our first-year medical students. It was perceived to be a better approach compared to content-based lectures. The effect on actual student performance is currently being investigated.

Implementing a modified team-based learning strategy in the first phase of an outcome-based curriculum--challenges and prospects

BACKGROUND

Team-based learning (TBL) is an innovative form of collaborative learning. The aim of TBL is to create a motivational context in which students become accountable for their learning.

AIM

Student attendance at didactic lecture sessions in our school is usually poor. A modified TBL approach in lieu of lectures was undertaken for the first time in a large class (150 students). This communication reports on the challenges of its implementation in our setting and preliminary data on its effects on student performance.

METHOD

Using computer-based evaluation followed by an in-class activity, a modified TBL approach was implemented over two semesters during an introductory basic science course. Data on student performance, student motivation and faculty reflection were collected and analysed.

RESULTS

This strategy had significantly enhanced students' class attendance. They performed better on the built-in TBL assessment (IRAT) compared to standard in-course tests. Besides content mastery, TBL approach could also instill useful attitudinal outcomes such as self-directed learning.

CONCLUSIONS

The TBL strategy is a viable and refreshing alternative to the usual didactic faculty engagement with the teaching process. Students appear to do better in tests built-in within TBL as compared to stand-alone in-course tests.

Do we need dissection in an integrated problem-based learning medical course? Perceptions of first- and second-year students

BACKGROUND

The introduction of a problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum at the School of Medicine of the University of Melbourne has necessitated a reduction in the number of lectures and limited the use of dissection in teaching anatomy. In the new curriculum, students learn the anatomy of different body systems using PBL tutorials, practical classes, pre-dissected specimens, computer-aided learning multimedia and a few dissection classes. The aims of this study are: (1) to assess the views of first- and second-year medical students on the importance of dissection in learning about the anatomy, (2) to assess if students' views have been affected by demographic variables such as gender, academic background and being a local or an international student, and (3) to assess which educational tools helped them most in learning the anatomy and whether dissection sessions have helped them in better understanding anatomy.

METHODS

First- and second-year students enrolled in the medical course participated in this study. Students were asked to fill out a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire. Data was analysed using Mann-Whitney's U test, Wilcoxon's signed-ranks or the calculation of the Chi-square value.

RESULTS

The response rates were 89% for both first- and second-year students. Compared to second-year students, first-year students perceived dissection to be important for deep understanding of anatomy (P < 0.001), making learning interesting (P < 0.001) and introducing them to emergency procedures (P < 0.001). Further, they preferred dissection over any other approach (P < 0.001). First-year students ranked dissection (44%), textbooks (23%), computer-aided learning (CAL), multimedia (10%), self-directed learning (6%) and lectures (5%) as the most valuable resources for learning anatomy, whereas second-year students found textbooks (38%), dissection (18%), pre-dissected specimens (11%), self-directed learning (9%), lectures (7%) and CAL programs (7%) as most useful. Neither of the groups showed a significant preference for pre-dissected specimens, CAL multimedia or lectures over dissection.

CONCLUSIONS

Both first- and second-year students, regardless of their gender, academic background, or citizenship felt that the time devoted to dissection classes were not adequate. Students agreed that dissection deepened their understanding of anatomical structures, provided them with a three-dimensional perspective of structures and helped them recall what they learnt. Although their perception about the importance of dissection changed as they progressed in the course, good anatomy textbooks were perceived as an excellent resource for learning anatomy. Interestingly, innovations used in teaching anatomy, such as interactive multimedia resources, have not replaced students' perceptions about the importance of dissection.

Traditional teaching supported by computer-assisted learning for macroscopic anatomy

Over the years we have observed that there is a very low passing rate for the Anatomy and Neuroanatomy courses in our department, and for that reason we decided to implement the use of student-learning resources. The objective of this study was to compare the results of traditional methodology with those obtained with the support of computer-assisted learning (CAL). We performed a retrospective and joint study for Anatomy and Neuroanatomy groups during the period of September 2001 to February 2003, to establish a comparison between traditional learning and traditional learning supported by CAL. In the Anatomy group, students who used the traditional method (n1 = 365) received an average final grade of 58 (SD = 14.94), while the average final grade for students who used the traditional method supported by CAL (n2 = 283) was 68 (SD = 14.56). In the Neuroanatomy group, the students who used the traditional method (n3 = 217) had an average final grade of 61 (SD = 14.51), while the students who used the traditional method supported by CAL (n4 = 134) received an average final grade of 68 (SD = 13.52). A z-test was conducted to determine the difference in averages between the two groups (alpha = 0.05), and the results showed that the averages were significantly different (P <.001). The modified traditional method with CAL support was shown to be the best option in comparison with the traditional method.

Team-based learning in a medical gross anatomy and embryology course

The application of team-based learning (TBL) as a major component of a medical gross anatomy course was evaluated. TBL is a method of small group instruction that addresses some of the shortcomings of other small-group teaching approaches. The core components of TBL were instituted in 12 small group sessions in the course. Each session included objective-oriented assignments, an individual readiness assurance test, a group readiness assurance test and a group application problem. Peer evaluation was carried out on a regular basis. Scores from TBL session activities and course examinations were analyzed and compared to previous years' course performance. Student course evaluation data and faculty feedback were also collected. Student evaluation data and faculty response indicated strong support for the TBL method as it was implemented in the course. Faculty noted improvements in students' day-to-day preparedness and group problem solving skills. Students' mean scores on exams were not significantly different from those of previous years. There was, however, a significantly smaller variance in examination scores that was reflected in a lower course failure rate compared to previous years. Correlation analyses of TBL and examination performance suggested that individual readiness assurance test performance is a good predictor of examination performance. TBL proved to be a superior method for small group learning in our anatomy course. Student performance suggested that TBL may most benefit academically at-risk students who are forced to study more consistently, are provided regular feedback on their preparedness and given the opportunity to develop higher reasoning skills.