Team-based learning using an audience response system: a possible new strategy for interactive medical education

Following the "Guidelines for reporting TBL" by Haidet et al, we report on a team-based learning (TBL) course we adopted for our 4th-year students in 2011. Our TBL course is a modified version of the one suggested in the guidelines, but its structure generally follows the core elements described therein. Using an audience response system (ARS), we were able to obtain individual and group readiness assurance test scores immediately and give instant feedback to the students. Instructors were thus able to monitor students' understanding in real time and so appreciated the system, which supports interactive classes even in large classrooms. However, TBL is teacher-oriented, and students were less appreciative of ARS, because they recognized that it could be easily used for grading. Nevertheless, we believe that a combination of TBL, and problem-based learning in a mature design can improve both motivation and understanding among learners.