Ali Yawar Alam, Shoaib Shah.
Faculty and Students Survey: "Methods of Imparting Knowledge suitable for undergraduate Medical students".
Pak J Med Res Jan ;42(3):116-9.

Objectives: The basic concept of learning is shifting from uni-directional flow of knowledge as in lecturing to more interactive Teaching Learning sessions. One to one approach, problem based learning (small group learning), online learning are few of the popular options. In order to assess the faculty and students perception of the most suitable method of learning and to devise an Institutional policy whether full text material of the lectures be provided in the library for students access or not, a Cross-Sectional Survey was carried out at Shifa College of Medicine, Islamabad in April 2003. Methods: A Questionnaire survey was done involving both the faculty and students regarding sources of Information suitable for students learning, methods of learning preferred such as Lectures, Problem based learning (small group learning), whether full text of Lectures be provided to the Library for students access or not. A total of 25 senior faculty members (Assistant Professors and above) and 181 Medical students from all M.B.B.S classes at Shifa College of Medicine, Islamabad took part in the survey. Results: 100% of the faculty members responded that all the resources (Lectures, Text books, journals, Internet, audiovisual materials) are suitable for information delivery to undergraduate Medical students. 80% of the faculty members wanted a mix of both the Lectures and Problem based learning (small group learning). 80% of the faculty members were of the view that only basic lecture outline along with references should be available for students consultation 84% of the students responded that all the resources (Lectures, Text books, journals, Internet, audiovisual materials) are suitable for information delivery to undergraduate Medical students, 67% of the students wanted a mix of both the lectures along with small group learning (problem based learning). 89% students wanted Lecture basic concept/outline along with references be made available in the Library for consultation. Conclusion: The results of our study support Problem based learning within the lecture based learning system. The Results of our study also prompt the adoption of Institutional Policy that only Lectures basic concept/outline along with references be made available in the Library for students consultation. This would promote Independent and creative learning along with encouragement of information seeking behaviour from varied resources.

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