title: Tutorials for large classes of Common Foundation Program biomedical science students: successes and challenges.
abstract: The aim of this paper is to investigate the problems encountered conducting biomedical science tutorials for nursing students in large classes with a typical student: staff ratio of 45:1. The study is based on level 1 Common Foundation Program students from the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast at the conclusion of two phases of biomedical sciences education which include a course of 12 interactive tutorials. Survey and interview methodologies were employed to investigate difficulties encountered by students in these large tutorial classes, to ascertain what characterises a good tutor and to explore student attitudes to interactive learning. The barriers to effective teaching and learning in tutorials are discussed and subsequently, a set of guidelines is proposed to enhance learning in them. These include being aware of the ability of the student group, having a compassionate questioning style, tailoring the teaching environment to fit the aims of the class and experimenting with different tutorial formats.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biomedical Sciences Education, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queens University Belfast, Whitla Medical Centre, Medical Biology Centre, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK.
authors.forename: Abdul-Kadhum J A
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: al-Modhefer
authors.forename: Sean M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Roe
mesh_terms: D000715:Anatomy / Q000193:education*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005181:Faculty, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D009660:Northern Ireland; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration; D010827:Physiology / Q000193:education*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration*