Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 23, 2026

Project-Based Learning Guidelines for Health Sciences Students: An Analysis with Data Mining and Qualitative Techniques
Published on: December 9, 2022
[The impact of a self-directed teaching approach on academic performance of medical students]
Carolina Williams1, Lucía Santelices1, Mario Ávila1
1Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Finis Terrae, Santiago, Chile, cwilliams@uft.cl.
Background:
Students should be encouraged to become reflexive and develop autonomous, lifelong learning habits. Therefore, teachers should focus on learning strategies which stimulate autonomous learning.
Aim:
To assess the impact of a self-directed teaching methodology on the academic performance of medical students in cellular biology and biochemistry.
Materials And Methods:
During 2013, 85 students received a traditional teaching methodology and during 2014, 85 students received a self-directed learning methodology. The grades obtained and the number of failures in the courses of cellular biology and biochemistry were compared in both groups.
Results:
The percentages of students approved at the end of the courses during 2013 and 2014 were 64 and 96% respectively (p < 0.01). The grades obtained by the 2014 students were also significantly higher than those obtained by 2013 students.
Conclusions:
This study confirms that academic performance improves with a self-directed teaching approach.
More Related Videos
07:32Use of Galvanic Skin Responses, Salivary Biomarkers, and Self-reports to Assess Undergraduate Student Performance During a Laboratory Exam Activity
Published on: February 10, 2016
09:52Setting Up a Stroke Team Algorithm and Conducting Simulation-based Training in the Emergency Department - A Practical Guide
Published on: January 15, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Sources of Self-Esteem II: Performance Feedback
Nursing Process for Patient and Caregiver Teaching III: Evaluation and Documentation
Nurses can use several methods to evaluate patient outcomes. For example, oral questions can assess cognitive learning,...
Self-Efficacy
Nursing Process for Patient and Caregiver Teaching I: Assessment and Diagnosis
It is critical to determine the patient's learning needs during the assessment. Determination of learning needs compounds data...
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: Affecting Factors
Self-Esteem