THE ROLE OF STUDENT CHARACTERISTICS IN PROBLEM BASED LEARNING

Abstract

To reach the effectiveness of study, it is recommended to work on active learning method. The learning activity must be done with emphasis on the students’ characteristics. The characteristic means internal factors (cognitive entry behavior and affective entry characteristics), which are considered important as solving problems. The previous studies have shown that there is a correlation between achievement test and students’ characteristic entry behavior. At the beginning of the academic year of 2003, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Indonesia started active learning with PBL curriculum for the BDS degree. From a study about the correlation between the achievement and students’ entry behavior (previous knowledge, self concept, attitude, and anxiety during attending the test) the study showed that characteristic entry behavior contributes to the student’s achievement test. The results supported the previous study.

Keywords

• Student characteristics
• problem-based learning