Case based learning as an educational strategy to enhance active learning in forensic medicine

Abstract

Since the time immemorial there have been many innovations in teaching and learning methods and the greatest challenge to any educational system is to involve students actively in learning. This study was undertaken with the objective to introduce case based learning and to study the effectiveness of the same in comparison to traditional didactic lectures in Forensic medicine. A group of 50 second year medical students were considered for this interventional study and were divided into two groups namely Group 1 and Group 2 of twenty five students each randomly allocated by lottery method. Group 1 was exposed to traditional lectures and Group 2 was exposed to case based learning. Group 2 was again subdivided into five subgroups. Post intervention test was conducted for both the groups at the end of four sessions lasting for 60 minutes each. Statistical analyses was made using SPSS software version 19 and inferential statistics obtained is unpaired t test for analyses. The mean scores of test of group 1 was 3.56(SD 0.58) and group 2 was 5.88(SD 0.75). t = 12.15, p< 0.001. Case based learning is learner centred, promotes active learning among students and increases their analytical skills as compared to traditional lectures.