Application of blended teaching model based on SPOC and TBL in dermatology and venereology

BACKGROUND: In this study, we applied the small private online course (SPOC) and team-based learning (TBL) blended teaching model to dermatology and venereology to ensure a higher quality learning experience for clinical medical students. METHODS: A total of 52 fifth-grade clinical undergraduates from Xiangya School of Medicine of Central South University were randomly divided into an experimental (n = 26) and a control group (n = 26). In March 2018, we used the SPOC and TBL blended teaching model in the experimental group and explored the effects of innovative teaching in the dermatology and venereology course, compared with the control group receiving the conventional teaching method. We analyzed the two groups’ theoretical assessment scores and questionnaire results to evaluate the efficiency of the new pedagogy. RESULTS: Students in the experimental group had a better understanding than the control group of the dermatology and venereology content and higher scores on the case analysis questions in the final theoretical examination. The results revealed that the majority of the experimental group students agreed that the novel teaching model blended with SPOC&TBL helped them significantly stimulate motivation and develop their ability in self-directed learning, independent thinking, literature retrieval, presentation board, teamwork, communication, and systematic clinical thinking. The teaching satisfaction survey of the two groups showed that the students’ satisfaction in the experimental group was significantly higher than in the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The SPOC&TBL teaching model is better than the traditional one in enriching students’ professional knowledge and cultivating their comprehensive ability. It can effectively promote educational quality, improve students’ learning effects, and enhance their satisfaction. This method has broad application prospects.