Instructional Methods of the Curriculum
Dr.Sawsan Mustafa Abdalla
Associate Professor

Learning Objectives
• List the instructional methods used in the curriculum
• Compare and contrast the various instructional methods
• Explain how to get the best out of these instructional methods

Instructional Methods
• Interactive lectures
• Case Discussions
• Problem Based
Learning sessions
• Practical activity sessions
• Role plays
• Assignments
• Student led seminars
• Independent guided learning / Student
Directed Learning
• Question and answer session
• Clinical learning
• Learning in the community

• William Hogwarth: 1736, "Scholars at a Lecture"

Interactive Lectures
• To intellectually engage and involve students as active participants
• Break the lecture in segments to have students participate and work directly with the learning material
• May begin with an engagement trigger
• Or, an activity to apply what students have learned, or, are going to learn

How could lectures help you learn better than other methods?
BRAIN STORM!

Case Discussion

Case Discussion
Principle behind this instructional method
• Interactive, student-centred, exploration of realistic narratives, triggering inductive learning
• Acquire
– Substantive knowledge,
– Analytic and collaborative skills
– Gain self-confidence
– Attention to detail

Case Discussion
Process
• Read out the case narrative
• Brainstorm
• Use the available information (from the case scenario)
• Explore answers to unanswered questions
• Engage in the intellectual and emotional exercise
• Face complex problems and decision making choices

Case Discussion
Outcome
• In their effort to find solutions and reach decisions through discussion, they sort out factual data, apply analytical tools, articulate knowledge, reflect on their relevant experience and draw conclusions they can carry forward to new situations

Problem Based Learning
• Learning through solving problems
• Learning gets larger than the problem itself
• Three steps
– Identifying the problem
– Researching the solutions
– Debating the solution

CD vs PBL
Case Discussion
• Learning objectives provided
• Information set is detailed
• Clearly points to a disease or an issue at hand
• Less exploratory, more conclusion directed
Problem Based Learning
• Learning objectives are to be derived
• Information set is limited
• Broad based with possibility of multiple disease / problem outcomes
• More exploratory, less conclusive

CD vs PBL (continued)
Case Discussion
• Case is disclosed before hand
• Learning through discussion of facts
• Session distribution
1.
Single session, where learning resources may be allowed
Problem Based Learning
• Case disclosed on the day of session
• Learning through lateral thinking, problem solving and detailed exploration
• Session distribution
1.
Brainstorming
2.
Discussion through notes
3.
Panel discussion

CD / PBL common ground
• Conducted through discussion
• Facilitates peer learning
• Provides opportunity for self evaluation
• Favors: Team work; Tolerance;
Development of analytical skills
• Helps build research skills
• Inculcates scholastic behavior

How could CDs and PBLs help you learn better than other methods?
BRAIN STORM!

Practical activity sessions
• Students are required to do things
(dissect, use lab equipment, etc.)
• Get hands-on experience, and
• Develop psychomotor skills

How could practical activity sessions help you learn better than other methods?
BRAIN STORM!

Role Play
• Role-playing refers to the changing of one's behaviour to assume a role
• Training to rehearse situations in preparation for a future performance
• Helps develop soft skills

How could role play sessions help you learn better than other methods?
BRAIN STORM!

Debates

Debates
• A method of interaction and logical argument
• The outcome of a debate depends upon consensus or some formal way of reaching a resolution
• In a formal debating contest, there are rules within a framework, defining how debaters shall interact
• More helpful in social sciences than in medical sciences

How could debates help you learn better than other methods?
BRAIN STORM!

Assignment

Assignment
• Assignment, are tasks assigned by the teachers, usually completed outside class hours
• A quantity or period of reading, writing or typing to be completed, problem(s) to be solved, or other skills to be practiced
• Written assignments are often based on pre-decided topics

How could assignments help you learn better than other methods?
BRAIN STORM!

Student led seminars
• Students are given topics
• They prepare presentations
• Discussions follow presentation

How could students-ledseminars help you learn better than other methods?
BRAIN STORM!

Question and Answer
Session
• During the lecture
• After the lecture
• Facilitates student learning

How could Q&A sessions help you learn better than other methods?
BRAIN STORM!

Clinical Learning
• Clinical teaching
• Important in initial years
• Mostly in hospitals

How could clinical learning help you learn better than other methods?
BRAIN STORM!

Learning in the Community
• Hospitals and clinics in the periphery
• Hospital interaction with the patients
• Know peoples problems
• Prevalence of disease

How could community based learning help you learn better than other methods?
BRAIN STORM!

Recap and summary
• Name the various instructional methods used at the College of Medicine,
Majmaah University.
• How are Case Discussion Sessions and
PBL sessions alike, and how do they differ?
• Which of the learning methods are most productive in your opinion and why?

Questions / queries

Thank you