Combination of didactic lecture with problem-based learning sessions in physiology teaching in a developing medical college in Nepal

Physiology teaching as an essential part of medical education faces tremendous criticism regarding curriculum design, methods of implementation, and application of knowledge in clinical practice. In the traditional method of medical education, physiology is taught in the first year and involves little interdisciplinary interaction. The Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara, Nepal (affiliated with the Kathmandu Univ.) started in 1994 and adopted an integrated curriculum drawn along the lines of the student-centered, problem-based, integrated, community-based, elective-oriented, and systematic (SPICES) medical curriculum. Here, physiology is taught for the first 2 yr of the 4.5-yr Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery course. Methodology adopted is as follows. For a particular topic, objectives are clearly defined and priority content areas are identified. An overview is given in a didactic lecture class to the entire batch of 100 students. Tutorial classes are conducted thereafter with smaller groups of students (25/batch) divided further into five subgroups of five students each. In these sessions, a problem is presented to the students as a focus for learning or as an example of what has just been taught. Each problem was accompanied with relevant questions to streamline the students' thought processes. A tutor is present throughout the session not as an instructor but as a facilitator of the learning process. A questionnaire sought students' opinion on the usefulness of this approach, relevance of the combination of problem-based learning (PBL) sessions and didactic lectures in understanding a particular topic and relating clinical conditions to basic mechanisms, and improvement of performance on the university final examination. The majority of the students opined that the combination of didactic lectures and PBL sessions was definitely beneficial regarding all the above-mentioned aspects of learning. The university results corroborated their opinion. Thus it may be considered that a judicious mixture of didactic lectures and PBL sessions is beneficial as a teaching module of physiology in medical schools.     

Problem-based learning within endocrine physiology lectures

Methods were needed to improve the interest of medical students in the 10-lecture Endocrine Physiology block at the end of the second semester of study. Other incentives for improvement included the possibility of attracting students into endocrine research electives and the pressure to improve teaching approaches that results from the high tuition they pay. The principal approach adopted was that of whole class problem-based learning sessions (PBLS) in which the lecture period begins with a brief overview of one to three simplified cases, followed by the usual didactic lecture. At the end of the lecture, each PBL case is read in detail, with several questions posed to the students. Their answers are then used to reinforce concepts from the lecture material. This method can also provide some continuity between lectures, either by using a case in several lectures to illustrate different points, or by posing a question at the beginning of class that illustrates a point from the prior lecture. The outcome of this approach has been very successful: student evaluations of the lecture block and their attendance have significantly improved.     

Don't dump the didactic lecture; fix it

Numerous articles have been published on the merits of active learning, and collectively they present a body of compelling evidence that these methods do enhance learning. In presenting arguments for active learning, it is often suggested that the traditional didactic lecture is more passive in nature and less effective as a teaching tool. However, a well organized lecture remains one of the most effective ways to integrate and present information from multiple sources on complex topics, such as those encountered in the teaching of physiology. This article presents an argument for enhancing lectures by incorporating active learning activities within their framework, and it is noted that engagement of the student is a key element making active learning activities work. Finally, suggestions are provided on the basis of the author's experience of things instructors can do to make lecture-based courses more engaging to students and, hence, promote learning.     

Impact of problem-based learning in a large classroom setting: student perception and problem-solving skills

Problem-based learning (PBL) can be described as a learning environment where the problem drives the learning. This technique usually involves learning in small groups, which are supervised by tutors. It is becoming evident that PBL in a small-group setting has a robust positive effect on student learning and skills, including better problem-solving skills and an increase in overall motivation. However, very little research has been done on the educational benefits of PBL in a large classroom setting. Here, we describe a PBL approach (using tutorless groups) that was introduced as a supplement to standard didactic lectures in University of British Columbia Okanagan undergraduate biochemistry classes consisting of 45-85 students. PBL was chosen as an effective method to assist students in learning biochemical and physiological processes. By monitoring student attendance and using informal and formal surveys, we demonstrated that PBL has a significant positive impact on student motivation to attend and participate in the course work. Student responses indicated that PBL is superior to traditional lecture format with regard to the understanding of course content and retention of information. We also demonstrated that student problem-solving skills are significantly improved, but additional controlled studies are needed to determine how much PBL exercises contribute to this improvement. These preliminary data indicated several positive outcomes of using PBL in a large classroom setting, although further studies aimed at assessing student learning are needed to further justify implementation of this technique in courses delivered to large undergraduate classes.     

PBL与图表相结合的教学法在《基础生物化学》课程教学中的初步实践

针对生物化学课程的特点,以改革当前传统的课堂讲授式教学模式作为突破口,采用基于问题学习（PBL）与图表结合的教学模式在《基础生物化学》中进行教学尝试。初步教学实践表明,通过PBL与图表教学法的互补结合,基本能克服《基础生物化学》教学活动中存在的两类矛盾,使传统的以＂教＂为主的教学模式,转变为以＂学＂与＂教＂相互平衡和促进的教学模式,使学生在掌握所学课程核心内容的同时又能获得学习方法、提高学习兴趣和学习主动性。     

The use of multiple tools for teaching medical biochemistry

In this work, we describe the use of several strategies employing the philosophies of active learning and problem-based learning (PBL) that may be used to improve the teaching of metabolic biochemistry to medical and nutritional undergraduate students. The main activities are as follows: 1) a seminar/poster system in a mini-congress format (using topics of applied biochemistry); 2) a true/false applied biochemistry exam (written by peer tutors); 3) a 9-h exam on metabolism (based in real publications); 4) the Advanced Biochemistry course (directed to peer tutors, where students learn how to read and criticize real medical papers); 5) experiments about nutrition and metabolism, using students as volunteers, and about free radicals (real science for students); 6) the BioBio blog (taking advantage of the "web age," this enhances out of class exchanges of information between the professor, students, and peer tutors); 7) student lectures on public health issues and metabolic disorders directed to the community and lay people; and 8) the BioBio quiz show. The main objective of these activities is to provide students with a more practical and interesting approach to biochemistry, such as the application of theoretical knowledge to real situations (diseases, experiments, media information, and scientific discoveries). In addition, we emphasize the importance of peer tutor activities for optimized learning of both students and peer tutors, the importance of a closer interaction between students and teaching staff, and the necessity to initiate students precociously in two broad fields of medical activity: "real" basic science and contact with the public (also helping students--future doctors and nutritionists--to be able to communicate with lay people). Most activities were evaluated by the students through written questionnaires and informal conversations, along various semesters, indicating good acceptance and approval of these methods. Good student scores in the biochemistry exams and seminars indicated that these activities are also working as valid educational tools.     

小鼠毛色遗传的控制机制及其在遗传学教学中的应用

小鼠是最常用的哺乳动物模式生物,其毛色有白色、灰色、黄色、黑色等,是典型的孟德尔遗传性状。但在本科遗传学教学中,一般只在介绍隐性致死基因的时候才提到小鼠毛色遗传的例子。作者深入挖掘和整理了小鼠毛色遗传的分子机制,并把这个例子贯穿于讲解孟德尔遗传以及介绍分子遗传学的基因结构、基因功能、基因调控、基因互作、基因的表观遗传学修饰和数量性状遗传等,尝试用同一个案例贯穿本科遗传学教学,培养学生建立由表及里的系统分析能力,既凸显遗传学研究的前沿性和完整性,又吸引了学生的注意力,激发了学生的学习兴趣,收到了很好的教学效果。     

Combination of didactic lectures and case-oriented problem-solving tutorials toward better learning: perceptions of students from a conventional medical curriculum

The Department of Physiology of Pramukhswami Medical College at Anand, Gujarat, India, started using problem-based learning in a modified way along with didactic lectures to improve students' understanding and motivate them toward self-directed study. After the didactic lectures were taken for a particular system, clearly defined short clinical problems related to that system were given to the students in the tutorial classes. Each tutor was assigned three to four groups of five to six students each. Problems were accompanied with relevant questions so as to streamline the thought processes of the first-year undergraduates. The tutor then facilitated the study process, and the students discussed among themselves to derive their solutions. At the end of the sessions, feedback was taken from the students through a planned questionnaire on a three-point scale. Of a total of 278 students over a span of 3 yr from 1999 to 2002, 74.4% of students favored a judicious mixture of didactic lectures and case-oriented problem solving in tutorial classes to be an efficient modality in understanding a system under study, and 84% of students stated the mixture of didactic lectures and case-oriented problem solving to be beneficial in relating a clinical condition to the basic mechanism; 82% of students believed that this module helped with better interactions among their batch mates, and 77.2% of students hoped to perform better in the university examination due to this new teaching/learning modality. They also expressed that this gave them ample motivation to do self-directed learning. It may therefore be concluded from the results of the present study that it is possible to have a problem-based learning module in the form of case-oriented problem-solving tutorials coexistent with the traditional didactic lecture module in the first year of medical education under a conventional curriculum.     

The efficacy of interactive lecturing for students with diverse science backgrounds

Learning is an active process, and, as such, interactive lectures are considered as the educational best practice. This study investigated the efficacy of interactive lecturing in a module of eight respiratory physiology lectures in a second-year Physiology course with two distinct subcohorts: students with strong science backgrounds and those without. The comparison of student performance in the summative examinations of respiratory physiology allowed us to evaluate the efficacy of interactive lecturing for each subcohort. Formal teaching evaluations were used to gauge the students' perception of interactive lectures. To further validate our findings, we repeated the study in the following year. The introduction of interactive lecturing significantly improved learning outcomes, with this improvement being maintained for the period of this study. Furthermore, students with limited prior knowledge, who had typically performed very poorly in this module, achieved a similar learning outcome to those students with a good science background. From these summative results and the students' perceptions, we concluded that students that are alert, motivated and interested in the subject, and engaged in learning activities and that are being encouraged to think and receive constant feedback on their progress will become confident in their learning abilities and have improved learning outcomes.     

Non-native English language speakers benefit most from the use of lecture capture in medical school

Medical education in the United States and Canada continues to evolve. However, many of the changes in pedagogy are being made without appropriate evaluation. Here, we attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of lecture capture technology as a learning tool in Podiatric medical education. In this pilot project, student performance in an inaugural lecture capture-supported biochemistry course was compared to that in the previous academic year. To examine the impact of online lecture podcasts on student performance a within-subjects design was implemented, a two way ANCOVA with repeated measures. The use of lecture capture-supported pedagogy resulted in significantly higher student test scores, than achieved historically using traditional pedagogy. The overall course performance using this lecture capture-supported pedagogy was almost 6% higher than in the previous year. Non-native English language speakers benefitted more significantly from the lecture capture-supported pedagogy than native English language speakers, since their performance improved by 10.0 points. Given that underrepresented minority (URM) students, whose native language is not English, makes up a growing proportion of medical school matriculates, these observations support the use of lecture capture technology in other courses. Furthermore, this technology may also be used as part of an academic enrichment plan to improve performance on the American Podiatric Medical Licensing Examination, reduce the attrition of URM students and potentially address the predicted minority physician shortage in 2020.     

Comparing biology majors from large lecture classes with TA-facilitated laboratories to those from small lecture classes with faculty-facilitated laboratories

The teaching faculty for this course sought to address their own concerns about the quality of student learning in an impersonal large lecture biology class for majors, the difficulties in getting to know each student by name, and difficulties in soliciting answers and reactions from the students during the lecture. Questions addressed by this study were, Do active-learning activities in a small and personal lecture setting enhance student learning more than active-learning activities in large impersonal lectures? and Are students more satisfied with an educational experience in a small and personal lecture setting? Based on faculty perceptions of how they best relate to their students, the prediction was that the students in the experimental group with small lecture classes and increased direct contact with the teaching faculty would learn physiological principles better than the students in the control group in the large impersonal lecture portion of the course. One of the laboratory sections of this large enrollment biology course was randomly selected to be taught with separate small lectures by the teaching faculty. In addition, the teaching faculty participated in the laboratory with these students during their experiments correlated with the lecture material. The students in both groups were compared by pre- and posttests of physiological principles, final course grades, and class satisfaction surveys.     

加强生物通识教育，促进理工与生命科学交叉人才培养——以哈尔滨工业大学生物化学公选课教学改革为例

理工科与生命科学的交叉与融合,是今后科学发展的潮流和趋势。生物化学作为面向全校学生的公选课,应更好地发挥介绍生命科学发展、促进学科交叉的作用。结合所在理工科院校自身特点,提出以“打基础,提兴趣,促交叉,重引导”为核心的教改方案。通过优化教学内容打牢理论基础,开设专题介绍促进学科交叉,引入虚拟实验激发学生兴趣,跟进后续课题引导参与科研,使公选课能够切实提升理工科学生生物学素养,发掘跨学科发展潜力。     

Biochemistry,Coming Along with Melodies: Instructional Design and Teaching Tips for Introduction of Biochemistry Course

The first class of a higher education course, in most cases, is an introduction that covers the learning goals, course overview, syllabus, and evaluation mode. The effectiveness of an introduction lecture is vital for students to develop an interest in the course. Biochemistry is the foundation of a vast array of scientific disciplines; therefore, it is a core course required for medical schools and life science majors. However, many students are often intimidated by the complex, intertwined metabolic pathways composed of a great variety of structurally diverse biomolecules. Well begun is half done: a good introduction is essential for the success of a course and this is particularly true for teaching of biochemistry. As an educator with over twenty years of teaching experience in biochemistry to students of biology, medicine, pharmacy, and nursing at Peking University, I have successfully enriched the introduction class with delightful biochemistry songs, multiple sources of educational materials, and biochemistry-related knowledge in medical humanities. These strategies and tips have proven effective, and I hope it can be enlightening and helpful to the teaching of biochemistry.     

Bioliteracy and teaching efficacy: what biologists can learn from physicists

The introduction of the Force Concept Inventory (FCI) by David Hestenes and colleagues in 1992 produced a remarkable impact within the community of physics teachers. An instrument to measure student comprehension of the Newtonian concept of force, the FCI demonstrates that active learning leads to far superior student conceptual learning than didactic lectures. Compared to a working knowledge of physics, biological literacy and illiteracy have an even more direct, dramatic, and personal impact. They shape public research and reproductive health policies, the acceptance or rejection of technological advances, such as vaccinations, genetically modified foods and gene therapies, and, on the personal front, the reasoned evaluation of product claims and lifestyle choices. While many students take biology courses at both the secondary and the college levels, there is little in the way of reliable and valid assessment of the effectiveness of biological education. This lack has important consequences in terms of general bioliteracy and, in turn, for our society. Here we describe the beginning of a community effort to define what a bioliterate person needs to know and to develop, validate, and disseminate a tiered series of instruments collectively known as the Biology Concept Inventory (BCI), which accurately measures student comprehension of concepts in introductory, genetic, molecular, cell, and developmental biology. The BCI should serve as a lever for moving our current educational system in a direction that delivers a deeper conceptual understanding of the fundamental ideas upon which biology and biomedical sciences are based.     

Hybrid thematic analysis reveals themes for assessing student understanding of biotechnology

Despite efforts to increase teaching of biotechnology worldwide, there are concerns that public literacy of genetic technologies remains insufficient. Improved education strategies are expected to empower individuals to make informed decisions about biotechnology. To evaluate the teaching and learning of this complex topic, qualitative assessment tools are needed. In this case study, we performed a hybrid thematic analysis to identify a set of overarching themes that can be used to evaluate individuals’ understanding of genetic technologies. We analysed the written justifications students gave for their attitudes on a range of genetic technologies, before and after peer-led discussion of each topic. We identified seven themes commonly detected in student responses, five of which have been previously described in studies of mass media communication of biotechnology. Our preliminary analysis suggests that peer-led discourse can promote changes in student understanding of biotechnology. We conclude that hybrid thematic analysis is a useful approach for evaluating the teaching and learning of genetic technologies. We discuss the utility of the hybrid approach and the themes described here for future studies of biotechnology education.     

运用《生物化学》歌曲，辅助《生物化学》教学

《生物化学》以生物体为对象,研究其生命的化学本质,是生命科学领域的核心课程。长期以来,由于生物化学课程知识点多、范围广和内容抽象,在一定程度上会影响学生学习的自信心,压抑其学习过程中的兴趣,致使学习的积极性不高。最近10～20年里,国外将科学（science）、技术学（technology）、工程学（engineering）及数学（mathematics）的教育与艺术学（arts）,特别是与艺术学中的音乐结合实施教学,形成一种所谓的STEAM (STEM + Arts) 策略,对STEM教育进行辅助,取得了不错的效果。基于以上情况,结合国内生物化学教学实际,笔者尝试将生物化学歌曲应用于课堂教学过程中,辅助教学。生物化学歌曲可以将抽象难懂的生物化学知识转变成悦耳动听的歌曲,在教学过程中能激发学生的学习兴趣,活跃课堂气氛,使学生在学习过程中爱上生物化学;在生物化学歌曲的创作过程中,能促进学生的思考创新,内化重点难点,使深奥的问题形象化;在学习过程中用歌声展现生物化学的魅力,让知识成为有趣的知识,让其成为有趣的学习者。本文介绍了国内生物化学歌曲发展壮大历程,结合具体实例从利用生物化学歌曲引入教学、理解生物化学内容、密切联系生活三方面评论了生物化学歌曲在辅助生物化学教学中的应用,并从歌词的改编、旋律的选择、歌曲的传唱、教学的设计等方面需要注意的问题进行讨论。     

Technology in the teaching of neuroscience: enhanced student learning

The primary motivation for integrating any form of education technology into a particular course or curriculum should always be to enhance student learning. However, it can be difficult to determine which technologies will be the most appropriate and effective teaching tools. Through the alignment of technology-enhanced learning experiences with a clear set of learning objectives, teaching becomes more efficient and effective and learning is truly enhanced. In this article, I describe how I have made extensive use of technology in two neuroscience courses that differ in structure and content. Course websites function as resource centers and provide a forum for student interaction. PowerPoint presentations enhance formal lectures and provide an organized outline of presented material. Some lectures are also supplemented with interactive CD-ROMs, used in the presentation of difficult physiological concepts. In addition, a computer-based physiological recording system is used in laboratory sessions, improving the hands-on experience of group learning while reinforcing the concepts of the research method. Although technology can provide powerful teaching tools, the enhancement of the learning environment is still dependent on the instructor. It is the skill and enthusiasm of the instructor that determines whether technology will be used effectively.     

生物化学教学实用技巧和策略

生物化学是生命科学中最重要的基础专业课程之一。欲使教师讲好它,学生学好并非易事。在学生中经常流传着一句“生理生化,必有一挂”的口头禅,足见学生学习生物化学的难度。本文结合笔者在南京大学讲授生物化学25年多的实践及成功经验,与同行们分享生物化学的教学技巧和策略,如何上好第一次课,如何激发学生学习生物化学的兴趣,如何在教学中培养学生的科学思维,如何把传统课堂教学的手段与其他新型的教学方式结合,如何开展和组织“第二课堂”活动等,希望它们对同行们的生物化学教学有所启发和帮助。     

Shaking up biology – our experiences teaching cell biology and biochemistry to a first year undergraduate class through the Canterbury (New Zealand) earthquakes

While most studies concerning how Universities respond to crises are based on simulations, we describe how the University of Canterbury responded to a real crisis, a series of major seismic events that caused significant disruption in 2010/2011. We focus on a single, first-year undergraduate biology course in which we modified our teaching strategies at short notice, introduced tutorials in tents, recorded podcasts, and set online quizzes. The University’s policy on special consideration applications for performance impairment (aegrotats) required us to develop new ways of estimating student grades. Course surveys indicate few changes in student appreciation of the course for earthquake-affected students, and there were no measurable changes in outcomes for these students in the remainder of their studies. We learned many lessons including the advantages of a good working relationship with learning resource providers, having progressive assessment through the term and also having online course delivery. The positive attitude and availability of staff is also important, along with quick decision-making that reduces uncertainty. We suggest that these lessons are pertinent for any crisis situation where weather, health or political incidents prevent a class and its teachers gathering over an extended period of time.