“Learner-Centered Strategies for the Lecture Hall”

Description

The focus of this seminar is to discuss what medical students think about lectures.  Lecturing is the primary mode of instruction for many medical schools, including MCG.  However, its effectiveness for adult education has been questioned in recent years. The majority of studies focusing on the effectiveness of lecture have not directly asked students for their opinion on the subject of lecturing and effective teaching techniques.  Three successive classes of medical students at MCG were given a written survey called “Interests, Attitudes, and Approach to Learning” at the end of their freshman and sophomore years to determine their perception of the effectiveness of various teaching methods, including lecturing. The students used a Likert scale to respond to the survey statements.  Opinions on effective teaching techniques were asked in student-led focus groups.  Student leaders and a six-member faculty evaluation team arranged focus group data by major themes.   

Survey results showed that more than 60% of freshman and at least 50% of sophomores found lecturing to be an effective teaching method.  Students thought case study discussions and independent learning were useful adjuncts to lecturing.  Enthusiastic lectures that include models, demonstrations, and interactive elements, such as calling on students, were considered most effective.  Lectures that included excess research commentary and reading from slide presentations were considered ineffective.  Overall, students at MCG perceive lectures to be effective for teaching basic sciences if they include sound teaching principles and active learning strategies.  Several medical students will be available to participate in the discussion and question and answer session following this presentation.