Crossword Puzzles- An Interesting Teaching Tool to Facilitate Teaching Learning Process in Undergraduate Students of Biochemistry

Abstract

Introduction: Traditional medical teaching emphasis more on didactic lectures where participation of students is minimum with lowest retention rate and it promotes the learning at the base of cognitive level. Teaching through crossword puzzles enhances active participation of students, evokes student’s interest, motivates them and enhance their critical thinking. Aim: To compare the effectiveness of crossword puzzle and traditional teaching method based on student’s performance and to evaluate perception of undergraduate medical students and faculties about crossword puzzle as a teaching learning method. Materials and Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional study which was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry, Gujarat Adani Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhuj, Gujarat, India, among the first year MBBS students. Total 150 participants were selected. Suitable two topics from the syllabus were chosen. Crossword puzzle prepared by online tools was circulated to the students during lecture of biochemistry. Performance of students were assessed by 10 pre-validated Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) based test on knows (K) and knows how (KH) levels for both teaching learning methods viz traditional method and crossword puzzle method. Student’s and teacher’s perception were also recorded using pre-validated questionnaire based on 5 point likert scale. Data was compiled and analysed in MS Excel. To test the significance difference between the averages scored by students, independent t-test was used at significant level p<0.05. Results: Average percentage score of students of crossword puzzle group was 97.1% in Diabetes Mellitus (DM) topic and 96.95% in Gout topic; which were significantly more than the average percentage scored by students of traditional method group (p<0.01). More than 80% students felt that crossword puzzles help in better understanding of the topics as well as in remembering the newer terminology. All the students and 79% teachers have suggested more use of crossword puzzles in teaching. Conclusion: Crossword puzzles improve learning through recreation and it breaks the monotony of traditional lectures. Crossword puzzle based teaching improves the student’s performance as compared to the traditional teaching.