Abstract Introduction: Team-based learning (TBL) is a student-centric teaching–learning (TL) method and fosters active learning. TBL has an advantage over other small group TL methods for balancing teaching time and resources. Aim: The study aimed to determine the effectiveness of TBL methodology in improving learning outcomes among 2nd-year undergraduate medical students in pathology. Settings and Design: This was a quantitative interventional study involving 100 2nd-year MBBS students in pathology at AIMS, BG Nagara. Methodology: Two groups of 50 students were exposed to three TBL and case-based learning (CBL) sessions on similar topics. For the TBL session, individual readiness assurance test scores and team readiness assurance test scores were obtained. Statistical Analysis Used: For both the TBL and CBL sessions, retention test scores were obtained after 2 weeks and the effectiveness of two methods of learning was determined by comparing the retention test scores by independent Student’s t-test. Feedback on students’ perception of TBL was obtained using a five-point Likert scale. Results: The mean test score of the TBL session was significantly higher than that of CBL sessions (19.80 vs. 15.86, P < 0.0001). Similarly, it was also observed that the retention scores were higher among average performers after the TBL session (19.71 vs. 12.50, P < 0.0002). Conclusion: TBL is more effective than CBL in fostering learning and it selectively benefits average performers more than higher performers, evidenced in this study by better retention of knowledge.
Read full abstract