Dentistry
Return to Library
Studies from University of Florida provide new data on life sciences
2009 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com) -- "Practical and effective faculty development programs are vital to individual and institutional Success. However, there is little evidence that program outcomes result in instructional changes," scientists writing in the Journal of Dental Education report. "The purpose of this study was to determine if and how faculty development would enhance participants' use of critical thinking skills in instruction. Seven faculty members from the University of Florida College of Dentistry and one faculty member from another health science college participated in six weekly two-hour faculty development sessions in spring 2007 that focused on enhancing critical thinking skills in instruction. Kaufman's and Rachal's principles of andragogy (adult learning) were used to design the sessions. used learning journals to respond to four instructor-assigned prompts and provided one presentation to peers. With the use of qualitative methods, eight themes emerged across the learning journals: teaching goals, critical thinking, awareness of learners, planned instructional change, teaching efficacy, self-doubt, external challenges, and changes made. Five of eight participants incorporated critical thinking skills into their presentations at a mean level of 2.4 or higher on a 5-point scale using Paul and Elder's behavioral definition of critical thinking skills," wrote L.S. Beharhorenstein and colleagues, University of Florida. The researchers concluded: "Faculty development opportunities that cause participants to reason through learning journals, peer presentations, and group discussion demonstrated the incorporation of critical thinking concepts in 63 percent of this cohort group's presentations, suggesting that if evidence-based pedagogics are followed, instructional changes call result from faculty development.." Beharhorenstein and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Dental Education (Promoting the Teaching of Critical Thinking Skills Through Faculty Development. Journal of Dental Education, 2009;73(6):665-675). Additional information can be obtained by contacting L.S. Beharhorenstein, University of Florida, College Dental, Dept. of Education Administration & Policy, POB 117049, 1212 Norman Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. The publisher of the Journal of Dental Education can be contacted at: American Dental Education Association, 1400 K Street, NW, Ste. 1100, Washington, DC 20005, USA. Keywords: United States, Gainesville, Life Sciences, Dentistry, Behavior, University of Florida. This article was prepared by Life Science Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Life Science Weekly via NewsRx.com.
|
