A prospective study of perceptions and preferences of medical students regarding teaching aids in teaching Pharmacology in a Medical College from India

Abstract

Abstract:To enhance successful communication, medical teachers are increasingly using teaching-learning media. To determine medical students' perception of blackboard(BB), overhead projector(OHP), Power Point Presentations(PPT) and there combination and to generate recommendations for their optimal use, a cross sectional questionnaire-based study was carried out among 5th semester medical students of the Bidar Institute of Medical Sciences, Bidar. Students made a forced choice between the three media and combination on 21 questions regarding their advantages and disadvantages. Resulting data was analyzed using percentages. Combination of BB & PPT was rated as best in allowing interaction (41.86%) and helping recall (55.81%). The BB+PPT were the best in providing information point wise (56.51%). More subject matter could be covered per lecture fast through PPT (44.19%). BB+PPT were best in imparting clinical details (62.79%), but BB alone was sleep inducing (39.53%). Overall preferred teaching aid was BB+PPT (83.72%). BB+PPT were best for problem based teaching (58.14%); stresses on relevant and increases thinking and understanding ability (55.81% each). Better perception of diagrams and concept understanding is best with BB+PPT (58.14% each). Students enjoy the lecture delivered by combination of blackboard and power point presentation. The study suggests that the using best available combination of teaching-learning media could make the lecture more interesting. It encourages the students to be attentive and actively participate in gaining better knowledge and allows interaction to take the lecture to the next level of excellence in future.