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The Impact of Mandatory Pre-Class Preparation on the Effectiveness of Teaching Methods: A Comparison of Team-Based Learning and Lecture-Based Instruction
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Esmail Riahi *    |
| Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran |
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Abstract: (25 Views) |
Background and Objective: Team-Based Learning (TBL) is recognized as an active instructional method in medical education. However, full implementation of TBL can be limited by resource and time constraints. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of a modified TBL approach with lectures accompanied by an Individual Readiness Assurance Test (iRAT) in teaching basic science content to medical students.
Methods: The study was conducted among two parallel classes of A and B, both receiving identical content on the physiology of the nervous system over 11 sessions. During the first part (5 sessions), both classes were taught using the TBL approach. In the second part (6 sessions), Class A received structured lectures preceded by an iRAT, while Class B continued with TBL. After course completion, separate exams were administered for each section. Final exam and iRAT scores were statistically analyzed and correlated.
Findings: Despite Class B showing generally higher overall performance, no significant difference was observed between groups in the second exam (p = 0.12). In Class A, however, performance improved significantly from the first to the second exam (p = 0.01), while no such improvement was seen in Class B (p = 0.80). A significant correlation was found between final scores and iRAT scores in Class B (p = 0.02), but not in Class A (p = 0.06). Furthermore, in a subsequent course (Special Senses Physiology) taught via lecture without iRAT by the same instructor, Class B again outperformed Class A (p = 0.003).
Conclusions: Requiring students to prepare before class through an iRAT test can make lectures as effective as the TBL. Thus, when full implementation of TBL is not feasible, lectures supplemented with pre-class assessments like iRAT may offer an efficient and practical alternative for enhancing student learning. |
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| Keywords: Medical Education, Teaching Methods, Active Learning, Educational Assessment |
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Full-Text [PDF 581 kb]
(36 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/07/29 | Accepted: 2025/09/22 | Published: 2025/04/4
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