Performances on Steps 1 and 2 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) were compared for classes that had completed a new problem-based learning curriculum and for previous, traditionally instructed classes at the University of Missouri Columbia School of Medicine. Students in the problem-based learning curriculum outperformed…

In 1997, the Medical Faculty at Hong Kong University adopted a predominantly problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum. At the same time, a sizeable PBL component was added to an already established English as a Second Language (ESL) Course for Medicine to help first-year students develop PBL discussion skills. However, it was felt that not enough…

An important mandate of higher education is to provide students with the skills and strategies required to become self-regulating lifelong learners. This paper analyzes and interprets data gathered from two instructional settings both of which have been structured to promote self-regulated or self-directed learning. It includes an interpretation…

A study explored some of the ways that the members of a medical educational institution make sense out of the radical pedagogical innovation taking place in their school. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with members at "MWCOM" (a pseudonym), then data were analyzed according to three primary themes which revolve around how…

Problem-based learning (PBL) with simulated cases is one method of delivering standardized pediatric curricular objectives, but the fact that students are dispersed and participating in community-based practices makes group meetings difficult. To address these issues, researchers developed and tested a new modality for presenting PBL cases, a…

In response to HE 528 462, the author suggests the use of student-generated learning issues in problem-based medical education should place more emphasis on mechanisms in the generation of learning issues, the ramifications of various degrees of student input into the identification of issues, and the role of teacher-learner negotiations in the…

A study investigated differences in National Board of Medical Examiners Part I scores for students at the College of Human Medicine (Michigan) in two preclinical medicine curricula, one problem based and one traditional, during four distinct periods. Results illustrate the difficulty of comparing the curricula, given revisions over time. (MSE)

Describes how a problem-based learning approach is used in a course on general surgery and reports the results in terms of degree of satisfaction of students, teachers, and patients. Employs interviews with a real patient with a real condition. (DDR)

A proposal that calls for increasing the relevance of administrator preparation by applying a problem-based learning approach is offered in this paper. A review of literature on problem-based learning (PBL) in medical education concludes that, compared with traditional programs, PBL yields superior or equivalent results on a variety of outcome…

The Portable Patient Problem Pack (P4), a method of simulating a patient's problem in a card deck format, is designed to develop the student's problem-solving or diagnostic skills in a manner consistent with the skills of the practicing clinician. Its effectiveness at McMaster University is reported. (LBH)

Describes an integrated problem-based learning experience for first-year medical students and assesses the effectiveness of the process in identifying basic science issues relevant to biochemical principles. (DDR)

A study investigated whether medical school faculty can arrive at consistent, non-idiosyncratic grades in a problem-based learning course. Analysis of grades given by three teachers, based on seven performance categories, to 16 groups of nine students in a seven-week University of Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) course revealed that given specific…

A growing number of health care educators are concerned with the effectiveness of the traditional approach for educating health care practitioners. The problem-based learning approach has been advocated as an effective alternative method for addressing many current concerns and for producing a more effective doctor. (Author/MSE)

The University of Calgary medical school revised its curriculum based on the way patients present to physicians. The curriculum defines 120 clinical presentations; describes appropriate clinical behavior of a graduating physician for each presentation; and specifies the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed by the graduate for clinical…

Interviews with faculty in seven problem-based medical school curricula concerning use of student-generated learning issues found that uses of such issues have evolved in terms of content definition, direct examination planning, student evaluation, and curriculum review. Results also suggest these curricula may encourage development of…