On the advantage of RBL teaching mode for medical students in undergraduate years and in foreign academic exchanges

Abstract

Research based learning (RBL) is a brand new teaching mode implicated by Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine specifically designed for clinical undergraduates. The nature of RBL is about exploring unknown knowledge and designing and executing comprehensive experiments. RBL aims at creating an open, active student participation, and close student-mentor interaction teaching mode. RBL includes literature study, research aim selection, experiment design and implementation, statistical analysis, results and conclusions, final report writing and defense of the report. Our experience indicates that RBL can substantially improve students' scientific logic and critical thinking and experimental skills, and develop the spirit of a team-player. This scientific training enables students to receive more comprehensive scientific training, facilitate their subsequent clinical research and practice, and assist them to participate in more international scientific exchanges. We propose that the RBL mode should be adopted for clinical student education in other universities. Key words: Research based learning; Medical education; Talent development; International cooperation