Case studies in a physiology course on the autonomic nervous system: design, implementation, and evaluation

Area of Science:

• Physiology Education
• Autonomic Nervous System

Background:

• Traditional lectures can be teacher-centered.
• Integrating interactive case studies can improve student engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and implementation of autonomic nervous system case studies.
• To evaluate the impact of these case studies on student learning and experience.
• To assess the tutor's perception of the pedagogical transformation.

Main Methods:

• Case study development and content presentation.
• Transformation of a teacher-centered lecture to an interactive module.
• Analysis of student performance via questionnaires and final exams.
• Tutor's qualitative assessment of the implementation.

Main Results:

• Case studies were structured with specific questions and expected answers.
• Tutor guidance facilitated student problem-solving during interactive sessions.
• Students reported positive learning experiences and improved learning success.
• The tutor perceived the transformation positively.

Conclusions:

• Interactive case studies effectively enhance the learning of the autonomic nervous system for pharmacy students.
• This pedagogical approach improved both student engagement and learning outcomes.
• The integration of case studies represents a successful shift from traditional lectures.