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Integrated problem-based learning in the neuroscience curriculum – the SUNY Downstate experience
BACKGROUND: This paper reports the author's initial experience as Block Director in converting a Conventional Curriculum into a problem-based learning model (PBL) for teaching Psychopathology. As part of a wide initiative in curriculum reform, Psychopathology, which was a six-week course in the...
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BioMed Central
2006
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Acceso en línea: | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1599720/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16982002 http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1472-6920-6-47 |
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author | Trappler, Brian |
author_facet | Trappler, Brian |
author_sort | Trappler, Brian |
collection | PubMed |
description | BACKGROUND: This paper reports the author's initial experience as Block Director in converting a Conventional Curriculum into a problem-based learning model (PBL) for teaching Psychopathology. As part of a wide initiative in curriculum reform, Psychopathology, which was a six-week course in the second-year medical school curriculum, became integrated into a combined Neuroscience block. The study compares curriculum conversion at State University of New York (SUNY), Downstate, with the experiences at other medical centres that have instituted similar curricula reform. METHODS: Student satisfaction with the Conventional and PBL components of the Neuroscience curriculum was compared using questionnaires and formal discussions between faculty and a body of elected students. The PBL experience in Psychopathology was also compared with that of the rest of the Neuroscience Block, which used large student groups and expert facilitators, while the Psychopathology track was limited to small groups using mentors differing widely in levels of expertise. RESULTS: Students appeared to indicate a preference toward conventional lectures and large PBL groups using expert facilitators in contrast to small group mentors who were not experts. Small PBL groups with expert mentors in the Psychopathology track were also rated favorably. CONCLUSION: The study reviews the advantages and pitfalls of the PBL system when applied to a Neuroscience curriculum on early career development. At SUNY, conversion from a Conventional model to a PBL model diverged from that proposed by Howard S. Barrows where student groups define the learning objectives and problem-solving strategies. In our model, the learning objectives were faculty-driven. The critical issue for the students appeared to be the level of faculty expertise rather than group size. Expert mentors were rated more favorably by students in fulfilling the philosophical objectives of PBL. The author, by citing the experience at other major Medical Faculties, makes a cautious attempt to address the challenges involved in the conversion of a Psychopathology curriculum into a PBL dominated format. |
format | Text |
id | pubmed-1599720 |
institution | National Center for Biotechnology Information |
language | English |
publishDate | 2006 |
publisher | BioMed Central |
record_format | MEDLINE/PubMed |
spelling | pubmed-15997202006-10-12 Integrated problem-based learning in the neuroscience curriculum – the SUNY Downstate experience Trappler, Brian BMC Med Educ Research Article BACKGROUND: This paper reports the author's initial experience as Block Director in converting a Conventional Curriculum into a problem-based learning model (PBL) for teaching Psychopathology. As part of a wide initiative in curriculum reform, Psychopathology, which was a six-week course in the second-year medical school curriculum, became integrated into a combined Neuroscience block. The study compares curriculum conversion at State University of New York (SUNY), Downstate, with the experiences at other medical centres that have instituted similar curricula reform. METHODS: Student satisfaction with the Conventional and PBL components of the Neuroscience curriculum was compared using questionnaires and formal discussions between faculty and a body of elected students. The PBL experience in Psychopathology was also compared with that of the rest of the Neuroscience Block, which used large student groups and expert facilitators, while the Psychopathology track was limited to small groups using mentors differing widely in levels of expertise. RESULTS: Students appeared to indicate a preference toward conventional lectures and large PBL groups using expert facilitators in contrast to small group mentors who were not experts. Small PBL groups with expert mentors in the Psychopathology track were also rated favorably. CONCLUSION: The study reviews the advantages and pitfalls of the PBL system when applied to a Neuroscience curriculum on early career development. At SUNY, conversion from a Conventional model to a PBL model diverged from that proposed by Howard S. Barrows where student groups define the learning objectives and problem-solving strategies. In our model, the learning objectives were faculty-driven. The critical issue for the students appeared to be the level of faculty expertise rather than group size. Expert mentors were rated more favorably by students in fulfilling the philosophical objectives of PBL. The author, by citing the experience at other major Medical Faculties, makes a cautious attempt to address the challenges involved in the conversion of a Psychopathology curriculum into a PBL dominated format. BioMed Central 2006-09-18 /pmc/articles/PMC1599720/ /pubmed/16982002 http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1472-6920-6-47 Text en Copyright © 2006 Trappler; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ( (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0) ), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. |
spellingShingle | Research Article Trappler, Brian Integrated problem-based learning in the neuroscience curriculum – the SUNY Downstate experience |
title | Integrated problem-based learning in the neuroscience curriculum – the SUNY Downstate experience |
title_full | Integrated problem-based learning in the neuroscience curriculum – the SUNY Downstate experience |
title_fullStr | Integrated problem-based learning in the neuroscience curriculum – the SUNY Downstate experience |
title_full_unstemmed | Integrated problem-based learning in the neuroscience curriculum – the SUNY Downstate experience |
title_short | Integrated problem-based learning in the neuroscience curriculum – the SUNY Downstate experience |
title_sort | integrated problem-based learning in the neuroscience curriculum – the suny downstate experience |
topic | Research Article |
url | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1599720/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16982002 http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1472-6920-6-47 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT trapplerbrian integratedproblembasedlearningintheneurosciencecurriculumthesunydownstateexperience |