Sensitizing faculty to the problem-oriented approach as an instructional method: experience of a brief faculty...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pedagogy

Background:

• The Medical Council of India recommends integrating problem-based learning (PBL) and case studies into medical curricula.
• Medical colleges are exploring innovative teaching methods to move beyond traditional instruction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of faculty development workshops in introducing problem-based learning (PBL) and case writing.
• To evaluate faculty understanding and readiness to adopt PBL methodologies.

Main Methods:

• A 2-day workshop on PBL was conducted, involving pre- and post-workshop questionnaires.
• A subsequent workshop focused on creating effective PBL case scenarios.
• Participant feedback was collected after both workshops.

Main Results:

• High participant agreement (92%-96%) that the PBL workshop improved understanding of PBL principles, steps, group dynamics, and student roles.
• A significant portion of participants (32%) felt the workshop did not adequately prepare them for the role of a PBL facilitator.

Conclusions:

• Faculty development workshops successfully raised awareness and understanding of PBL and case writing among faculty trained in traditional methods.
• Faculty feedback indicates a need for specialized training focused on developing essential PBL facilitator skills for effective group learning guidance.