EDUCATIONAL STRATEGIES
Year:2010 | Volume:2 | Issue:4|Papers Count:11

Aims. Designing collaborative tasks have an important role in medical students teaching and preparedness for performing their professional activity. This study was to evaluate the effect of group testing on information maintenance in medical students. Methods. In this observational cross-sectional study, 40 forth semester medical students of physiology class were randomly divided into two A (n=16) and B (n=24) groups. At first, students from both groups answered to questions individually. Immediately after completing the exam as individuals, students from group B answered the same questions as first exam in groups of 2-3 students. On the next exam (4 week later), students from both groups answered a randomly selected subset of questions from first exam as individuals. The results were analyzed by paired student T-test. Results. Student retention of course content was significantly (p<0.03) lower in group A (13.86±0.63) in comparison to group B (15.02±0.45). The mean of student scores in group B in the first exam was 15.67±0.45 while it was 16.1±0.44 in the second exam. So, student performance was improved significantly when students completed the original examinations in groups. Conclusion. Collaborative testing in addition to be an assessment tool of students can be used as an effective strategy to enhance learning and team work training.

Aims. Academic performance of medicine students explain their professional merit and are influenced by various factors. One of these factors which is less appreciated in the admission of university students is educational background. So, this study was carried out in order to determine the predictive validity of high school grade average (HSGA) on the academic performance of medical alumni.Methods. In this cross-sectional study, all the medical alumni of Kashan University of medical sciences (KAUMS) from 1986 to 2003 (n=586) were selected. The questionnaire including demographic data, HSGA and academic performance status was used. Data was analyzed using independent t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient, bivariate linear regression analysis, cut-off point, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predicative value.Results. The difference between HSGA and the averages of each educational courses except final average of faculty were significant (p<0.01). HSGA had highest correlation with basic sciences course average. The highest predictive validity coefficient of HSGA was related to basic sciences course. HSGA had high specificity for determination of academic performance. the best specificity and PPV were related to externship course.Conclusion. HSGA is a specific test for prediction of academic performance;its PPV and NPV are almost acceptable and it can be used as a valid criterion for acceptance of students to medical schools.

Introduction. Clinical teaching is one of the important pillars of nursing education. Half of the nursing schools teaching time goes to clinical education;so, the clinical education is the heart and major part of professional nursing education and plays an important role in formation of nursing profession identity.The current system of nursing clinical education relies more on retention of information and lecturer plays the main and central role. The main purpose of nursing education is to apply theoretical classes of cases learned by students in the clinical environment and increasing the real power and decision making in the real and acute condition. Although the clinical education has many benefits, its implementation is facing difficulties and obstacles that should be overcome to achieve better effect and effective enforcement.Conclusion. Facilities, equipment of clinical environment and reviewing tools and clinical processes evaluation must be provided for clinical education of nursing. Improving the performance of trainers and attract teachers professional collaboration can be advantegous to upgrade the clinical education.

Introduction. Selecting the teaching method is an important stage in educational designing. After selecting the content and before determining the mean, teacher should determine the policy of teaching and in this decision should notice to "nature of learners", "subject content" and "time limits". One of the long historical method of teaching in educational systems is lecture. Presented the principles, concepts and facts by instructor and verbal learning, listening and take notes from comprehensive are the fundamentals of this method; explaining and describing the phenomena by the teacher has a major role.Lecture method has the stages of readiness, introduction, content, text and conclusion that if this processes took place well, skillful and motivative will have high impact on learners.Conclusion. Considering the nature of the subject methods of lecture, student interest, ability of learners and time limitations, teacher should somehow involves the students in class discussions to achieve the dynamicity and activity of the class.

Introduction. The process of higher education is highly significant in any society. These days, universities have come across a main transformation. Lack of budget, an increase in the number of university students, a change in the student population, up-to-date and various educational needs of each society require fundamental changes that are coordinated with recent needs. Through ICT-based education, the feasibility of “learning with no time and place limitation” proportionate to the students’ requirements has been brought about. By fusing proper keywords, electronic resources and credible scientific websites, this review article was to analysis the role of information and communication technology in higher education and its concepts.Conclusion. Using the information and communication technology is a symbol of a new era of education.Information and communication technology transforms and changes models of education, enriches the present educational models more than before and makes new methods. These models share the features of education that are based on technology and suggest modern educational and learning approaches in which the learner plays an important role and emphasizes on self-directed learning, independent, flexibility and communication.

Introduction. Today, education as crucial element of transfering concepts to learners has variety of methods and increasing access to appropriate hardware and software for multimedia teaching methods, have opened new horizons facing to universities and educational centers. It seems that using these facilities for training helps the realization of some ideal criteria such as quality of education. Although some universities and educational centers use multimedia methods of teaching in recent years, but still not a lot of evidence has been published about program evaluation. Distance education by multimedia, has become able to meet needs of users and learners in any place and time, without even needed of any teacher. However, multimedia teaching method has limitations such as restricted social relations of the students. The replacement of indirect communication instead of face to face contact may lead to reduced experiences of learners.Conclusion. Considering the general advantages of multimedia training and capabilities, especially in medical and paramedical education, its integration to current educational programs in medical schools to combine conventional and traditional education and training through remote multimedia presentation is inevitable and useful.

Introduction. Evaluation is a systematically gathering, analysis and interpretation of data process to valuation and judge. Teachers should select the best method between the different methods of evaluation, according to their educational objectives. Exams and multiple-choice questions are one of the most common tests in medical sciences. These tests due to complete identity have the maximum reliability, but their validity is still considered in evaluation by experts. Although the multiple-choice tests are widely used especially in the nursing and medicine, however, studies in this area are indicated fundamental defects in designing this type of questions.Conclusion. Considering that multiple-choice questions have high quality of reliability and objectivity, which are the most controversial aspects of testing, with efforts in promoting the main aspects of content validity and structure, turn into one of the most desirable methods to assess students’ knowledge.Therefore, revision and studying more about the designing rules of multiple-choice questions by teachers is necessary.

Introduction. For years, the theoretical courses presented to students and pupils by traditional lecture method and both teachers and students were unhappy from low-efficiency and boring of classes. Today, no work in the world is done in the fields of science and technology, economics and even thought individually. Teamwork is one of the main methods of teaching and students must be encouraged for work in group. Although the group work and discussion are teaching methods, they are also considered as an important objective attitude. Group working makes the opportunity to create positive attitudes toward school and university in the minds of students and strengthen emotional interaction between them. The main purpose of collecting and providing this article was to better evaluate and introduce of small groups teaching or group discussion.Conclusion. Group work and discussion, make students familiar with problems in adult life and teach them the ways to solve problems. In fact, this type of training is a small practice to achieve better social life. During group work, in addition to accumulation of experience of dividing labor and responsibility, students achieve experiences as well in management and organization of activities. Participation in group work and discussion make learning deeper and lasting.