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Challangesof PBLin SEAJME
Challangesof PBLin SEAJME
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Abstract
Background: The cornerstone of problem-based learning (PBL) tutoring is its facilitation skills and is
vital to student learning. PBL is a major component in the undergraduate medical curriculum at the
Univeristi Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).
Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify the knowledge, attitudes and skills of PBL tutors
of different status and backgrounds.
Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out on 55 tutors with medical and non-medical
backgrounds, of various academic positions, who conducted 94 tutorials. Respondents were 240
semester-1, year-1, UKM medical students of the academic session of 2007-2008. Data was collected
at the end of last session of each PBL case tutorial, utilizing an evaluation form.
Results: The majority of tutors possessed knowledge on PBL process and showed positive attitudes
towards students learning. Facilitation skills varied among the tutors. However, no significant
difference was found between tutors of medical and non-medical backgrounds.
Conclusion: Problem processing or facilitation is a challenging task. This also depends on problem
structure or designing of the problem. Every PBL tutor irrespective of their background and status
must have adequate training on PBL facilitation skills and designing of problem based on critical
evaluation of educational theory.
Background
Academic status Total
Medical Non-medical
n (%) n (%) n (%)
Table 2 represents the tutors’ knowledge on lowest ranking, while 6 tutors of lecturer status
the PBL process, where the lowest rank and (100% lecturers), 5 tutors of senior lecturer
highest rank achieved tutors were categorized status (56% senior lecturers), 6 tutors of
based on the rating of students. Regarding professor status (56% professors), 2 tutors of
tutors with a medical background, students trainee lecturer status (50% trainee lecturers)
perceived that 60-100% tutors understood the and 3 tutors of associate professor status
PBL process, while 58-100% of tutors with a (27% associate professors) fell under the
non medical background were perceived to highest ranking. Similarly, distribution of non
have understood the PBL process. Among medical background tutors is shown in table 2.
tutors with a medical background, one tutor of
professor status (9 % professor) fell under the
Table 3 reveals the tutors’ attitude and interest learning (table 3) (mean 88% for tutors with
in students’ learning, which shows that 30% to medical backgrounds and 92% for those with
100% tutors from medical background and non-medical backgrounds). In terms of skills,
64% to 100% from non-medical background the mean ratings indicate that tutors with a
tutors showed interest in students learning. medical background performed better in
The number, percentage and status probing students for information, focusing on
distribution of lowest and highest ranked tutors learning issues, encouraging students to be
of both background are shown in this table. more critical and also to participate in active
group discussion. On the other hand, tutors
Table 4 demonstrates the students’ responses with non-medical backgrounds performed
about skills in facilitation of the PBL tutorial by better at skills in performing good introduction,
their tutor. A total of eight items were non provision of information upon request and
investigated, which included providing a good creating a comfortable non-threatening
introduction, probing for information, providing learning environment. The lowest ranking
information upon request, focusing on learning rating among tutors with non-medical
issues, encouraging being more critical, backgrounds was much better than their
creating a comfortable learning environment, medical counterpart in all skills except the skill
encouraging to participate in group discussion of assisting the group to focus on learning
and providing feedback. An average of more issues (table 4). The range of lowest and
than 70% of tutors from both backgrounds highest rank rating against these skills is also
were found to possess all of these skills except closer among tutors with non-medical
that of providing information upon request. This backgrounds than those with medical
study revealed that 20%-100% medical and backgrounds. This means that facilitation skills
0%-100% non-medical background tutors of non-medical background tutors are more
provided information. Table 4 also represents consistent and follow a more facilitative-
the number, percentage and status distribution collaborative manner than those of their
of lowest and highest ranked tutors against medical counterparts.
different skills in both backgrounds.
The tutor’s role in PBL is neither to act as
Discussion authoritarian information provider nor passive
onlooker assuming PBL as self-directed
We consider student feedback an important curriculum; rather, a tutors’ role is very active
exercise to improve the tutor skills in PBL. In in terms of the process and in keeping the
this study we examined the student students’ discussion alive, being non-
perceptions of the knowledge, attitude and threatening and motivating by non directive
skills of PBL tutors of different academic stimuli (Barrows & Tamblyn, 1980; Barrows,
positions and of medical and non-medical 1985). In the present study, more than 50% of
backgrounds. Irrespective of the tutors’ the tutors from medical and non-medical
background and status, the present study backgrounds, provided information upon
revealed that the most of tutors possessed request from students which is against the PBL
knowledge on PBL process (table 2) and philosophy (table 4).
showed positive attitudes towards students
South East Asian Journal of Medical Education
Vol. 3 no. 2, 2009
57
Table 4. Distribution of tutors’ skills in facilitation of PBL tutorials