Advances in health sciences education : theory and practice
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Adv Health Sci Educ Theory Pract · Nov 2007
Tutor training, evaluation criteria and teaching environment influence students' ratings of tutor feedback in problem-based learning.
In a problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum, tutor's feedback skills are important. However, evaluation studies often show that students rate many tutors as ineffective in providing feedback. We explored whether this is related: (a) to tutors' skills, and hence a teaching intervention might improve their performance; (b) to the formulation of the evaluation item, hence a more specific wording might help students better recognize a feedback when received; (c) to PBL teaching environment, and hence the tutors' teaching unit might influence students' ratings. ⋯ Students' ratings of tutors' ability to give feedback seem to vary in function of the tutors' training, of the formulation of the evaluation item, and of the tutors' teaching environment. These variables should be considered for setting up effective strategies in faculty development.
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Adv Health Sci Educ Theory Pract · Nov 2007
Factors affecting students' evaluation in a community service-learning program.
A community service-learning curriculum was established to give students opportunities to understand the interrelationship between family and community health, the differences between community and hospital medicine, and to be able to identify and solve community health problems. Students were divided into small groups to participate in community health works such as home visits etc. under supervision. This study was designed to evaluate the community service-learning program and to understand how students' attitude and learning activities affected students' satisfaction. ⋯ Students had achieved what they were required to learn especially the training in communication skills and ability to identify social issues. Students' attitude towards social service did not affect their opinions on the quality of the program and subjective rating on their achievement. The quality of the program was related to the quality of learning rated by the students.