Curricular change and pedagogical methods: Impact experienced by students of Medicine

Abstract

Modifications in the teaching and learning methods, focusing an active role of the students, have been experienced in Higher Education, in general, and especially, in Medical Education. Although there is a reasonable number of studies around this issue, it is recognised a lack of studies that highlight the attitude of students as active agents of their own education. Therefore, aiming to understand and analyse the quality of the experiences, it was carried out a focus group with six senior students of Medicine of a Private University in Minas Gerais – Brazil. Herewith, were worked up students’ perceptions about the modifications in the syllabus, the course and in the teaching methods of the professors, namely the changes occurred in the academic experience and adjustment. Also, important to point out is that the students taking part in the research have had comparison means by getting together with peers from former syllabus during their instruction. Results show that the students were able to identify the changes carried out in the syllabus and in the teaching methods; that the active methods have boosted qualitatively the academic experiences and straitened and enhanced the interpersonal relationships with their peers and from other fields, at interprofessional work, besides preparing them better in their relationship with the patient. Regarding attitudes and adjustment behaviours, they have described immaturity, anxiety and fear resulting from the new things implemented and the real practice sceneries of the instruction proving that they need different support during the adjustment and transition process.

Keywords

• ensino superior
• estudantes de medicina
• mudança curricular, adaptação acadêmica.