Active learning through flipped classroom in mechanical engineering: improving students' perception of learning and performance

Knowledge Acquisition and Retention in a Flipped Nursing Course: A Quasiexperimental Study

BACKGROUND

Student knowledge acquisition and retention are essential in nursing training. This study examined differences in content knowledge acquisition and retention between traditional and flipped classroom (FC) formats.

METHOD

A pretest-posttest quasiexperimental design with a follow-up test was used for this study of associate degree nursing students in a Hong Kong community college. The control group (n = 141) included nursing students in a traditional classroom (TC) setting before COVID-19 compared with nursing students in an FC (n = 130) setting during the pandemic. The effects were evaluated before the course, postcourse, and 3 months after the course.

RESULTS

Content knowledge scores for both groups improved after the course. Students in the FC performed better in the short-term (posttest immediately after the course) and long-term (follow-up-test 3 months later) than students in the TC.

CONCLUSION

Implementing the FC method effectively promoted students' knowledge acquisition and retention. [J Nurs Educ. 2024;63(8):501-506.].

Team-, case-, lecture- and evidence-based learning in medical postgraduates training

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of team-, case-, lecture-, and evidence-based learning (TCLEBL) methods in cultivating students' clinical and research abilities, as compared to traditional lecture-based learning (LBL) approaches.

METHODS

Forty-one medical postgraduates were divided into two groups, a TCLEBL group and an LBL group. Teaching effectiveness was evaluated through student- and teacher-feedback questionnaires, scores from theoretical examinations and written literature reviews, and student learning burdens.

RESULTS

Compared to the LBL approach, both teachers and students were more satisfied with the TCLEBL model (p < 0.001 for both teachers and students). The TCLEBL group performed significantly higher on the theory test compared to the LBL group (p = 0.009). There were significant differences between the LBL and TCLEBL groups, respectively, in terms of literature review and citations (12.683 ± 2.207 vs. 16.302 ± 1.095, p < 0.001), argument and perspective (12.55 ± 1.572 vs. 16.333 ± 1.354, p < 0.001), comprehensiveness of content (13.3 ± 2.268 vs. 16.683 ± 1.344, p < 0.001), and scientific rigor and accuracy (10.317 ± 1.167 vs. 12.746 ± 0.706, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the total extracurricular time expended between the two groups (323.75 ± 30.987 min vs. 322.619 ± 24.679 min, respectively for LBL vs. TCLEBL groups, p = 0.898).

CONCLUSIONS

TCLEBL is an effective teaching method that cultivates students' clinical and research abilities.

Teaching diagnostic radiology to radiology majors: Implementation and evaluation of a flipped classroom model

PURPOSE

Radiology instruction focuses on cultivating medical students' diagnostic thinking skills and practical competence, and lecture-based learning (LBL) is the most commonly used teaching approach. While fact-based, this type of traditional instruction is often non-engaging, leading to a shift toward student-centered models, one of which is the flipped classroom (FC). However, studies involving a comprehensive evaluation of students' experiences using the FC approach and its effects on their learning are lacking. Therefore, this study analyzed the teaching efficacy of the FC approach based on data of large groups of radiology students, accumulated over time.

METHODS

Data from 636 medical radiology students taught using the FC and LBL models from 2012 to 2021 were retrospectively collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

The test scores of the FC group were significantly higher than those of the LBL group, and improvements in learning initiative and learning ability were notably higher in the FC than in the LBL group. The two groups showed no significant difference in the critical thinking disposition indicator, and the proportion of students with positive critical thinking tendencies was higher in the FC than in the LBL group. The academic and social self-perception scores of the FC group were significantly higher than those of the LBL group, and there was a significant difference in Kolb's learning style.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on evidence of completing pre-, in-, and after-class work, the FC approach improved students' academic performance, learning initiative, diagnostic ability, and satisfaction with learning and the teaching institution. Our findings suggest that FC instruction promotes students' assimilation and convergence of learning styles, and cultivates positive critical thinking.

The effect of peer mentoring program on clinical academic progress and psychological characteristics of operating room students: a parallel randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

One of the new educational systems is the mentorship method. This study aimed to investigate the effect of peer mentoring program on clinical academic progress and psychological characteristics of operating room students.

METHODS

This research was a randomized controlled trial that was conducted on undergraduate students in the operating room department of Khomein Faculty of Medical Sciences, Markazi Province in Iran. The number of operating room students were 70 that were divided into intervention and control groups by random allocation using Permuted Block Randomization. Inclusion criteria included all operating room students who were in internship, and exclusion criteria included failure to complete the questionnaires. The data collection tools were the demographic questionnaire, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Situational Motivational Scale. In the control group, clinical training was done in the traditional way. In the intervention group, training was done by peer mentoring method. The obtained data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, paired t-test, chi-square test, ANCOVA, univariable and multivariable linear regression.

RESULTS

The study revealed significant differences between the intervention and control groups. Post-intervention, the intervention group demonstrated substantial increases in self-confidence (mean difference = 5.97, p < 0.001) and significant reductions in stress levels (mean difference = -3.22, p < 0.001). Conversely, minimal changes were noted in the control group for both self-confidence (mean difference = 0.057, p = 0.934) and stress levels (mean difference = 0.142, p = 0.656). Although both groups experienced decreases in anxiety and depression levels, these changes were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Furthermore, the intervention significantly enhanced academic progress in the intervention group compared to the control group (mean difference = 20.31, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The results showed that the implementation of the peer mentoring program was effective in improving academic progress, self-confidence, and reducing the stress of operating room students. Therefore, this educational method can be used in addition to the usual methods to improve the education of operating room students.

Flipped classroom approach to global outreach: cross-cultural teaching of horizontal strabismus to Chinese ophthalmology residents

AIM

To evaluate the flipped classroom model for teaching horizontal strabismus didactics in an ophthalmology residency program in China as part of a visiting professorship from the United States.

METHODS

Residents from an ophthalmology residency program in China were invited to participate in flipped classroom sessions taught by an experienced American ophthalmology faculty in 2018. Residents were instructed to watch a pre-class video lecture prior to the in-class-case-based activity. Content tests (5 Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program style questions) and surveys were administered before and after the classroom sessions (100% response rate). These results were compared to that of an American cohort who were taught the same content.

RESULTS

The Chinese cohort of 12 residents preferred the flipped classroom to the traditional classroom at higher rates than the American cohort of 40 residents (92% vs 55%, P=0.04) and felt that all ophthalmology topics would be appropriate for the flipped classroom teaching style (P-values between 0.008 and <0.001). In both Chinese and American cohorts, we found that the exotropia curriculum saw a small but significant improvement in performance following the flipped classroom session (P=0.025 for Chinese residents; P=0.001 for US residents), whereas scores in both groups for the esotropia course did not significantly improve.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study to evaluate the flipped classroom model implemented by a visiting ophthalmology professor in a global outreach setting. The flipped classroom sessions are viewed favorably by the Chinese residents relative to the US cohort with a modest impact on knowledge. Decreased in-person interpreter requirement and increased student engagement make this model valuable in cross-cultural visiting professorship settings. Finally, the flipped classroom may lend itself well to a virtual format to prevent the transmission of COVID-19, although such a format requires further study.

Gamification and discovery learning: Motivating and involving students in the learning process

The widespread use of new technologies by students has forced universities to include active methodologies in their pedagogy. This process has accelerated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, introducing innovative changes in pedagogy. This has motivated many lecturers to increase student motivation. The need to keep the students' attention during long and tedious theoretical sessions has motivated this contribution. Furthermore, the need for students to develop their Web search skills and development of individual expertise and participation in a final group process that attempts to transform newly acquired information into a more sophisticated understanding has inspired this contribution. This paper presents the results obtained from the implementation of gamification and Discovery Learning instructional model in the Software Engineering subject of the Computer Science degree in the course 2021/2022. The joint use of gamification and the Discovery Learning instructional model through Webquests has never been studied before. They help students to better acquire the knowledge taught in class. The gap in the combination use of gamification and Discovery Learning instructional model compared to previous studies using one single method show an improvement in academic results, greater motivation on the part of the students, greater creativity and ability to put what they have learned into practice.

Flipped Learning 4.0. An extended flipped classroom model with Education 4.0 and organisational learning processes

This article integrates two visions on the creation of knowledge by students: an academic vision where the person who creates knowledge uses high-level cognitive abilities and, therefore, acquires deeper learning, and an organisational learning vision, where the creation of knowledge adds value to the organisation and the individuals who work in this matter. It starts from a validated flipped classroom model and then adds procedures and cycles of knowledge that make it an active methodology, in such a way that it simultaneously supports organisational learning, using cooperative competencies characteristic of Education 4.0. This proposed hybrid model has been applied online during confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic and, subsequently, in dual mode (students partly in person and the rest online at the same time) and face-to-face mode. The evidence of this research shows that the creation of knowledge by the students, cooperatively and with an organisational learning perspective, has repercussions for improvements in their academic performance by producing deeper learning. In addition, the development of cooperative skills is observed to create and manage a large amount of helpful knowledge for them and other students in their learning process.

Application of Deep Learning in College Physical Education Design under Flipped Classroom

With the development of information technology, teaching reform has also undergone major changes. The traditional college physical education teaching method cannot meet the needs of the majority of students, and the physical education teaching mode continues to be reformed. Microcourse is the most intuitive form of deep integration of information technology and physical education. From the perspective of the flipped classroom (FC), the physical education model has gradually changed from teacher centered to student centered. Deep learning (DL) emphasizes that learners have the ability to actively construct knowledge, effectively transfer knowledge, and solve real problems. This design applies DL and convolutional neural network to the teaching design of physical gymnastics in colleges and universities. The application of the DL teaching model based on FC in the microcourse teaching of gymnastics in colleges and universities is studied and evaluated. The results show that the current utilization of microcourse teaching resources is too low. Interest-oriented teaching microcourses cannot improve students' interests. The proportion of students who are interested is relatively small, and more than 50% of students are not interested. Teachers generally believe that the current gymnastics microcourse needs further optimization and improvement. The poor quality of microvideos and the lack of supervision and reward mechanism in the course are the main reasons for the insufficient students' interest. The complexity of the videos and the liveliness of the discussions are the main problems of low resource utilization. The student's interest in learning is greatly improved after the application of the designed model, and the proportion increases to 82.4%. The effect on ordinary college students is the most obvious, and the effect of microvideo learning has been significantly promoted. Design mode has the most obvious improvement in improving learning efficiency and autonomous learning ability. The improvement of learning ability has increased from 18% to 72%, and the improvement of learning efficiency has increased from 39% to 82%. Meanwhile, students' interest in learning is stimulated, and the utilization of resources is improved.

Hot topics and frontier evolution in college flipped classrooms based on mapping knowledge domains

With the outbreak of COVID-19 and the development of online teaching, the online flipping teaching mode has attracted increasing attention. Systematic analysis of the research status and development trend of the flipped classrooms is significant for guiding the improvement of the quality of online flipped teaching. This study used the metrology software CiteSpace to draw a scientific knowledge map of relevant research in the web of science database from 2013 to 2021. It performed visual analysis of research authors, research institutions and countries, keyword clustering, keywords co-occurrence, and keyword time zone distribution. The results showed that: (1) The flipped classrooms research has attracted increasing attention from the social and educational circles, however, the relationship between relevant research authors, institutions, and countries is not close enough, and there is little cooperation. We need to strengthen cooperation further and realize the sharing of high-quality resources; (2) Based on keyword co-occurrence cluster analysis, this study identified three hot topics, namely, preparation before class, classroom activities and consolidation after class; (3) According to the keyword time zone map, this study divided three frontier evolution trends: exploration period, adaptation period, and growth period; (4) Finally, with the spread of novel coronavirus, it is suggested to promote the online flipped classroom teaching mode, and put forward reasonable suggestions from the perspective of teachers, students and researchers, and look forward to the future digital development direction of the flipped classroom.

Nomograms for Predicting Medical Students' Perceptions of the Learning Environment: Multicenter Evidence From Medical Schools in China

Medical students' perceptions of the medical school learning environment (MSLE) have an important impact on their professional development, and physical and mental health. Few studies reported potential factors that influenced medical students' perceptions of MSLE. Thus, the main goal of this study was to identify influencing factors for medical students' perception levels of MSLE. The perception levels of MSLE were assessed by the Johns Hopkins Learning Environment Scale. The univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify significant predictors for the perceptions of MSLE. The nomograms were established to predict medical students' perception levels of MSLE. In the multivariate logistic regression model, gender, university category, grade, mother education level, learning environment of schools, interests in medicine, and Kolb learning experience were significantly associated with medical students' perceptions of MSLE. Correspondently, the nomograms were built based on significant variables identified by the univariate logistic regression analysis. The validation of the nomograms showed that the model had promising predictive accuracy, discrimination, and accordance (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.751). This study identified influencing factors of medical students' perceptions of MSLE. It is essential to implement corresponding interventions to improve medical students' perceptions.

Development and Evaluation of Interactive Flipped e-Learning (iFEEL) for Pharmacy Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: Distance learning has come to the forefront of educational delivery throughout the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Presently, there is a paucity of studies that have utilized interactive e-lectures as a model for remote flipped learning. Objectives: To compare educational outcomes for the remote interactive flipped e-learning (iFEEL) activity versus paper-based in-class group learning (PICkLE). Methods: During the spring 2021 semester, tutorials in pharmaceutical quality control and good manufacturing practice were remotely delivered to students by two different approaches: PICkLE and iFEEL. In the latter activity, interactive e-lectures were software-designed and included several audiovisual enhanced illustrations to encourage students to interact with the lecture material prior to attending the virtual class. The class time was reserved for in-class quizzes and discussion. Mean exam scores were compared and voluntary questionnaires were distributed among the participating students as well as healthcare faculty members in 29 Saudi universities. Data from the remotely-delivered course was compared with data from previous course offerings (2018−2020) that used the live PICkLE method. Results: The mean score of post-lecture tests significantly (p < 0.05) increased compared to pre-lecture tests in remote PICkLE and iFEEL, respectively. iFEEL activity showed higher mean post-tests score (95.2%) compared to live PICkLE (90.2%, p = 0.08) and remote PICkLE (93.5%, p = 0.658). Mean comprehensive exam scores increased from 83.8% for remote PICkLE to 89.2% for iFEEL (p = 0.449). On average, 92% of students and 85% of faculty members reported positive feedback on the five quality attributes of the e-lecture. Over 75% of students preferred the iFEEL over PICkLE activity for future course offerings and 84% of faculty members recommend the integration of interactive e-lectures in their future courses. Conclusion: iFEEL represents a novel model of remote flipped learning and shows promising potential to be incorporated into live blended-learning classroom activities.