Tutoring in problem-based learning: perceptions of teachers and students

This study examined teacher and student perceptions during the first 2 years of a complete transition from a conventional to a problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum at Dalhousie University. Teaching staff who had tutored in the two pre-clinical years (n = 88) completed a questionnaire at the end of the 1993-94 academic year, and student assessments of their tutors were collated for all nine units (n = 597). Seven research questions were addressed in the study which examined the faculty, student and administrative aspects of tutoring. The results showed that faculty tutors rated PBL more highly than traditional medical school methods on eight of the nine items. Teaching staff were very satisfied with their tutoring experience, but expressed a need for further training in group facilitation, questioning, handling 'difficult' situations and evaluating students. They reported that their workload outside tutorials was cut almost in half in their second year of tutoring. Students expected a tutor to be a skilled group facilitator who would guide them in their learning, while helping to maintain a positive group climate. They did not want the tutor to teach the content as they perceived the task of learning to be their responsibility. Several major administrative factors affected tutors' and students' perceptions of tutorials, including: changing tutorial group composition and tutor every 8-10 weeks; team tutoring; end-of-unit exam; conflicting demands of basic science 'vertical' units and ongoing 'horizontal' units; departmental budgetary requirements for basic medical education; recognition of tutoring in promotion and tenure decisions; and recruitment of tutors.