Transformative pedagogy: Collaborative learning for inclusive education in pharmacy.

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Collaborative Learning
• Educational Technology

Background:

• Traditional teaching methods often focus on information transmission.
• Enhancing student engagement in clinical case study discussions is crucial for pharmacy education.
• Technology integration in learning environments requires further exploration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the impact of technology-enhanced collaborative learning on pharmacy students' engagement.
• To provide insights for tutors on facilitating effective clinical case study discussions.
• To highlight the role of specific technologies, like Padlet, in supporting collaborative learning.

Main Methods:

• Reflective practice by pharmacy students.
• Analysis of collaborative learning dynamics, including active interaction and asymmetrical roles.
• Identification of technology's role as a learning enabler.

Main Results:

• Collaborative learning positively impacted student engagement, especially in shared tasks with mutual accountability.
• Technology, specifically Padlet, was identified by students as a key enabler of their learning process.
• A shift in tutor perspective towards developing learning abilities, rather than mere information transmission, was encouraged.

Conclusions:

• Technology-enhanced collaborative learning significantly boosts student engagement in pharmacy education.
• Tutors play a vital role in fostering learning abilities through interactive pedagogical approaches.
• Further research is needed to understand the nuances of collaborative learning and technology's role.