Teaching public health: seminar or lecture.
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Date
2010-06
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Publisher
South East Asia Regional Association for Medical Education.
Abstract
Introduction: Several pedagogical methods can be used to impart medical education but the challenge
is to make students appreciate critical thinking and apply their knowledge.
Objectives: We developed a strategy to train students in public health due to the managerial
constraints and academic interest. The academic purpose was to avoid passive learning, increase
student involvement, encourage interaction and make learning more engaging and effective.
Methods: Instead of delivering lectures, we encouraged the students to prepare seminars on topics of
public health importance based on the guidelines provided by the lecturers and present them to their
peers. The lecturers were present only to guide and supervise the students. Using a questionnaire,
students’ perception on the lecture and seminar mode of teaching was evaluated.
Results:
Lecture: Organizational content and the learning outcomes were better (p=0.00). Study material easily
available (p=0.003), useful (p=0.01), better content (p=0.00) and quality (p=0.00). The students claim
that there was more teacher guidance (p=0.00), care for student learning (p=0.00) and the interest
and understanding in the subject taught increased (p=0.00). Flow of the subject matter was also
better (p=0.00).
Seminar: More students assumed that their knowledge was adequate prior to the seminars (p=0.00).
They found the seminars to be difficult. Motivation to read about the topic was increased. Improved
the students presentation skills (p=0.001), communication skills (p=0.00) and provoked interest in the
topics taught (p=0.04). Played a bigger role in student interaction, problem solving and teamwork.
More students agreed that there was more student involvement and that seminar provoked their
interest.
Conclusion: From the findings of this study we found that a combination of both the methodologies is
ideal as both have strengths as well as weaknesses.
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Citation
Rashid K A, Sapna S P. Teaching public health: seminar or lecture. South East Asia Regional Association for Medical Education. 2010 June; 4(1): 25-33.