title: Student knowledge and confidence in an elective clinical toxicology course using active-learning techniques.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure changes in students' knowledge and confidence scores after completing an elective clinical toxicology course in an accelerated doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Various active-learning techniques were used to create a learner-centered environment. Approximately two-thirds of the course used student-led presentations. Some of those not presenting were assigned to be evaluators, responsible for asking the presenter a question or writing quiz questions based on the presented material. Other learner-centered activities included weekly quizzes and discussions at the conclusion of each presented topic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A test instrument designed to measure students' knowledge and associated level of confidence on each item was administered at the beginning and end of the course. Students' knowledge and confidence scores increased significantly from pretest to posttest.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Students' increased confidence and knowledge scores were well correlated after course completion, indicating students were better able to self-assess these areas. These findings suggest that confidence could be an additional measure of students' metacognitive skill development.
authors: School of Pharmacy, South University, Savannah, Georgia ; Department of Pharmacy Practice, Western New England University, Springfield, Massachusetts ; Research was done while author was at South University. Author's current affiliation is Western New England University.
authors: Michael C
authors: MC
authors: Thomas
authors: School of Pharmacy, South University, Savannah, Georgia.
authors: Liliairica Z
authors: LZ
authors: Macias-Moriarity
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000379:methods; D013339:Students, Pharmacy / Q000523:psychology*; D014116:Toxicology / Q000193:education*
keywords: active learning; confidence; elective; knowledge; toxicology