Effectiveness of collaborative versus traditional teaching methods in a teaching hospital in Gujarat

Abstract

Background: Collaborative learning (CL) strategies are grossly underused in medical education. The present study aims to compare the effectiveness of students' preferences for collaborative and traditional learning (TL) strategies. Objectives: The objective of the study is to compare the effectiveness and students' preference for CL and TL methodology for small groups learning's in community medicine. Methodology: This was a crossed over experimental study design with students being taught two separate topics using collaborative and TL methods. Pre- and Post-test scores and students' reflections were recorded. Results: The mean pretest scores of participants were comparable and posttest scores for collaborative method were significantly higher. The effect size for control group was 0.26 and for intervention group was 0.49. Conclusion: Collaborative method was highly effective in improving the performance of participants. Participants' expressed their preference toward collaborative methods over traditional methods of teaching.