Knowledge and attitude of dental students towards student-centered learning at the Faculty of Dentistry, Khon Kaen University
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2011-01-24
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Khon Kaen University Dental Journal
Abstract
This research aimed to evaluate the knowledge and attitude towards student-centered learning(SCL) among dental students enrolled in the Faculty of Dentistry, Khon Kaen University during thefi rsttrimester of Academic Year 2005. Data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire (Cronbach’salpha=0.97) and presented with descriptive statistics. Two hundred and eighty-eight students (96.6%)responded to the questionnaire. The majority of students (47.9%) had a moderate level of knowledgeon SCL (scored between 9 and 12 out of 16) with an average of 11.9 (standard deviation=2.1).Females had higher knowledge scores than male counterpart. Students with better cumulative gradepoint average (GPAX) scored higher than did those with lower GPAX. Most students (81.3%) agreedthat SCL was a useful or somewhat useful teaching-learning method, but only 42.7 percent indicatedto like the approach. Moreover, a majority of 72.6% responded that SCL was not an appropriatemethod to use in the Faculty. Direct instruction was the most favorite teaching-learning method forthe majority of students (38.1%), while the lecture method was considered the best to help studentsin understanding the lessons (37.7%). In conclusion, dental students had satisfactory knowledge ofSCL, while the attitudes were somewhat mixed. Students also preferred a teacher-centered learningwith students playing a minor role in the educational process. Students and teachers should thereforework together to develop educational methods that effectively help them to achieve academic goalsand satisfying learning experience.Key words: dental students / knowledge / attitude / student-centered learning / lecture
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Khon Kaen University Dental Journal; Vo.13 No. 2 July - Dec. 2010; 80-91