The Effectiveness and Student Perceptions of Peer-Conducted Team-Based Learning Compared to Faculty-Led Teaching in Undergraduate Teaching

BACKGROUND: Today’s professionals need to be capable of independent information retrieval, teamwork, and lifelong learning. To meet these demands, more active learning methods are needed in university teaching. Team-based learning (TBL) is a learner-centered method which enables activation of students in large classes. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare a method combining peer teaching and TBL (peer-conducted TBL; pTBL) with faculty-led seminar teaching. More precisely, students’ opinions about teaching methods and immediate and long-term learning outcomes were aimed to compare. METHODS: A faculty-led design was compared to a pTBL design when teaching pediatric and dermatological allergy in a seminar setting for 5(th) year medical students. For that purpose, students were randomly split into two learning groups. In a faculty-led seminar (n = 44 students) the instructor first lectured on each subject; then, named students from each group were asked to present clinical cases given to them beforehand and them raising questions were answered. In a pTBL group (n = 50) student’s prior knowledge was first tested. Then, randomly selected, pre-prepared students took a tutors role in a seminar and presented clinical case to be solved in groups by all students. Students’ performance was equally tested after both sessions and 5–6 months afterwards. Students’ opinions were asked by an electronic survey. RESULTS: In this study, pTBL was significantly preferred over faculty-led learning (mean grade 8.5 vs 6.5). Those participating in pTBL group studied pre-learning material more actively than those in faculty-led group. However, there was no difference in learning outcomes (immediate or long term) between the groups. CONCLUSION: Students prefer teaching method in which they are self in active role. Combining TBL and peer teaching may further increase the accumulation of non-academic skills like expertise and proficiency.