title: A new approach for laboratory exercise of pathophysiology in China based on student-centered learning.
abstract: Student-centered learning is generally defined as any instructional method that purportedly engages students in active learning and critical thinking. The student-centered method of teaching moves the focus from teaching to learning, from the teachers' conveying course concepts via lecture to the understanding of concepts by students. The student-centered method has been used extensively in lecture courses in China; however, there is little evidence of its use in laboratory courses. The purpose of the present study was to describe the implementation of a student-centered method in a pathophysiology laboratory course. The use of student-centered learning strategies in an undergraduate laboratory course was well received by both students and teachers. Here, students had to take on responsibility for their own learning and, thus, became more accountable. Moreover, they reported increased active learning, skill development, information collection, and retention. In addition, mean scores for the quiz were significantly higher in the student-centered method compared with the traditional teaching method. The shift from teacher-centered delivery to a student-centered model led to a positive change, in which the learners drove the process and were guided, not directed, by the teacher.
authors.affiliation: School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guilin Medical University, Guangxi, Guilin, China;
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Foreign Languages, Guilin Medical University, Guangxi, Guilin, China;
authors.forename: Junhai
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Guilin Medical University, Guangxi, Guilin, China; and.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Guilin Medical University, Guangxi, Guilin, China.
authors.forename: Qiuhui
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Guilin Medical University, Guangxi, Guilin, China.
authors.forename: Huiling
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guilin Medical University, Guangxi, Guilin, China; 33549345@qq.com.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tian
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D032882:Comprehension; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004522:Educational Status; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories; D017145:Models, Educational; D010827:Physiology / Q000193:education*; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*
keywords: laboratory course; pathophysiology; student-centered learning