Ensuring Problem-Based Learning for Medical Students and Looking Forward to Developing Competencies

Abstract

Problem-based learning (PBL) is one of the most efficient teaching methods leading to critical thinking and problem-solving abilities or competencies. Medical education has multiple opportunities to use PBL in its curriculum. The educator and students have a bidirectional understanding, which encourages the activation of prior knowledge skills, facilitates the comprehension of new information, and improves learners’ critical thinking. Students have the scope of exploring the topic of interest in a real-life scenario. PBL is an innovative instructional method in which problem forms learning basics, and it allows the students to solve complex issues efficiently. Training of medical students involves both classroom teaching and practical applications. PBL is gaining popularity due to significant suggestions such as students’ learning and encouraging motivation to learn with an interdisciplinary integration of knowledge. PBL is more effective than lecture-based learning in the academic performance of medical students in producing better quality medical students.

Keywords

• competency; medical education; medical students; problem-based learning