Student-generated learning materials as active learning: a qualitative study of midwifery students' experiences

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Midwifery Education
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Student-generated learning materials (SGLM) are increasingly used in health education.
• Limited evidence exists on midwifery students' perceptions of SGLM in specific courses.
• This study explores midwifery students' reflections on creating learning materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine midwifery students' written reflections on generating learning materials.
• To understand student perceptions of the SGLM process in a "Normal Birth and Postpartum Period" course.

Main Methods:

• Exploratory qualitative study with third-year midwifery students (n=26) in Türkiye.
• Students created course-related learning materials over 10 weeks.
• Reflexive thematic analysis of written reflections, following COREQ guidelines.

Main Results:

• Four themes emerged: individual learning, emotional experiences, difficulties, and instructional application.
• Students reported increased engagement, visual learning, self-confidence, and professional awareness.
• Challenges included stress, time management, material limitations, and topic selection uncertainty.

Conclusions:

• Findings represent self-reported perceptions of SGLM, not objective learning outcomes.
• The process positively impacted engagement and confidence but presented challenges.
• Further mixed-methods research in diverse settings is recommended.