Advances in Physiology Education, Vol 267, Issue 6 81-S86, Copyright © 1994 by American Physiological Society
Effectiveness of an active method in teaching physiology
S. Caglayan
Florence Nightingale College of Nursing, Istanbul University, Sisli, Turkey.
A three-year study was conducted in search of a better method of teaching
physiology that would enhance the critical thinking skills of first-year
nursing students in Istanbul University, Florence Nightingale College of
Nursing. Three different methods of teaching were used: 1) a straight
lecture method, 2) an active method with no previous preparation of
students, 3) an active method with previous preparation. Each method was
evaluated by end-of-term marks, student feedback in that year, and a
follow-up the next year by questionnaires distributed to both students and
nursing teachers. The results of end-of-term examinations and Student
Acceptance Indexes, as well as comments of nursing teachers, show that the
active method of teaching is better than straight lecture and that the
active method is most effective when students are familiarized with it
beforehand.
