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How can medical students learn in a self‐directed way in the clinical environment? Design‐based research
Author(s) -
Dornan Tim,
Hadfield Judy,
Brown Martin,
Boshuizen Henny,
Scherpbier Albert
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
medical education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.776
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1365-2923
pISSN - 0308-0110
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2929.2005.02112.x
Subject(s) - medical education , curriculum , psychology , learning environment , adjunct , problem based learning , active learning (machine learning) , process (computing) , medicine , mathematics education , computer science , pedagogy , artificial intelligence , linguistics , philosophy , operating system
Aim This study aimed to establish whether and under what conditions medical students can learn in a self‐directed manner in the clinical environment. Method A web‐based learning management system brought 66 placement students, in a problem‐based learning (PBL) medical curriculum, into closer touch with their clinical learning objectives and ways of achieving them. Free response comments from 16 of them during the 7 weeks they used it, transcripts of group discussions before and after the period of use, and responses from all 66 students to a questionnaire were analysed qualitatively. Results Students were rarely fully autonomous or subservient. They valued affective and pedagogic support, and relied on teachers to manage their learning environment. With support, they were motivated and able to choose how and when to meet their learning needs. The new system was a useful adjunct. Conclusions Self‐direction, interpreted literally, was a method of learning that students defaulted to when support and guidance were lacking. They found ‘supported participation’ more valuable. Learning in the clinical environment was a social process with as many differences from, as similarities to, PBL.