A faculty's experience in changing instructional methods in a professional physical therapist education program.
OBJECTIVE
In response to the demands of a changing practice environment, many physical therapist educators have incorporated problem-based learning methods into their teaching. The purpose of this study was to describe a physical therapist program faculty's experience in transitioning from traditional instruction to problem-based instructional methods.


METHODS
Face-to-face, semistructured interviews followed by a focus group were conducted with 7 faculty members, guided by questions about factors that influenced instructors' experience of changing instructional methods.


RESULTS
Nine themes described the faculty's experience: perception of need for teaching change, personal knowledge of problem-based learning, decision-making process, peer support, partial adoption, values related to teaching and learning, significant response from the community, administrative support, and perceived barriers to incorporation of problem-based methods.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings are consistent with literature describing change: change is a process, the process of change must accommodate individual change, a network of peer support is necessary, and the change process requires leadership and support from administrators within and outside of the group.
Foord-May
Lynn
L
Department of Online Teaching and Learning, School for Health Studies, Simmons College, 300 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115-5820, USA. foord@simmons.edu
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000288:Administrative Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003479:Curriculum / Q000639:trends; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D004500:Education, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005178:Faculty / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007857:Leadership; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009511:New England; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010379:Peer Group; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty / Q000193:education*; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration*