title: Evaluation of an e-PBL model to promote individual reasoning.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Medical educators should promote the development of student clinical reasoning toward independence in clinical settings. The objective of this study was to evaluate an online problem-based learning (e-PBL) model designed to promote student individual reasoning in supplement to traditional PBL.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve e-PBL modules were added to the fully problem-based curriculum for Year 2 at Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine (SKKUSOM). In this e-PBL, students worked on the problems individually in an online setting, followed by face-to-face discussions in a colloquium. The cases were presented using interactive multimedia to enhance the authenticity of the case and stimulate student interest in learning. A formative evaluation study was conducted to determine student satisfaction with e-PBL and its effectiveness as perceived by the students using both quantitative and qualitative methods. A cohort of Year 2 students at SKKUSOM (n = 38) took part in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Students perceived e-PBL significantly more positively after they had taken a module in terms of its ability to foster problem-solving skills and its ability to allow them to learn in ways suited to individual learning styles. Additionally, student survey and interview revealed that a vast majority of students were satisfied with the overall learning process in e-PBL and perceived it positively in fostering knowledge acquisition and clinical reasoning. Moreover, students found the cases realistic and engaging.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show the potential of e-PBL to enhance traditional PBL by promoting the development of individual reasoning in a flexible online-learning environment and offering cases in an interactive multimedia format, which warrants further investigation into its impact on student learning outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyong-Jee
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Changwon
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kee
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D036301:Qualitative Research; D056910:Republic of Korea; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013850:Thinking; D014584:User-Computer Interface