Clinical Instructors' Attitudes Toward Student Responsibility for Learning

Abstract

The Learning Vector model was developed to guide clinical instruction and assist students in becoming self-directed learners. Using this model, clinical instructors gradually encourage students to accept more of the responsibility for their learning. This study was undertaken to assess clinical instructors' attitudes toward giving students more responsibility for learning. A questionnaire was distributed to 141 clinical instructors affiliated with six medical technology programs in North Carolina. Analysis of these instructors' responses to the questionnaire showed that they were uncertain about giving students responsibility for their learning. A second group of 24 clinical instructors who had registered for a continuing education workshop on clinical teaching scored significantly higher on the questionnaire and were more receptive to the underlying principle of the model.