Peer teaching experience of the first year medical students from turkey

To document peer teaching activity performed by first-year medical students and their views on the teaching activity. Survey. Medical Education Department, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey, in the 2012 - 2013 academic year. Volunteer students were selected for peer teaching model by an academician from the Medical Education Department. Students were taught subjects selected from classes such as biochemistry and microbiology in the same way as the academicians do. Following each class activity, the teaching student was assessed by the other students on a 5-point rating scale. Written and verbal feedback was also obtained from both teaching students and participated students. Verbal feedbacks were noted by a faculty member and similar opinions were categorized. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 20 statistical program. Eleven students took part in the program. Feedback was received from students 171 times. The mean number of students participated was 24.4 +/- 14.3 in each program. Statistical analysis revealed that mean value for teaching materials, peer instructors and teaching environment were 4.62 +/- 0.49, 4.63 +/- 0.47 and 3.88 +/- 1. 27 respectively. Peer teaching method is a pretty good way of teaching for medical students. It is a practicable technique that can be used in medical training. Taking part in this program as a lecturer, student increased students' self-confidence in the learning and teaching activities. Quite positive feedbacks were received

Self-assessment through videotaping compared with peer and trainer feedback

To assess and compare three different types of feedback for presentation skills, self, peer and trainer feedback. Cross-sectional study. Faculty of Medicine at Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey, from March 2012 to December 2012. Participants were faculty members and instructor nurses. Each participant gave a 10-minute presentation, which was rated by peers, course trainers and the presenter himself/herself using a thirteen-item questionnaire [designed as a 5-point Likert scale]. Peers and trainers conducted the assessment during the presentation while the self-assessment was done later by watching a video recording of the presentation. Comparison of the points between the groups was made using the two-way ANOVA. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to evaluate the relationship between the mean scores of self-assessment, peer and trainer assessment. Ten faculty members, 27 instructor nurses and 4 trainers participated in the study. A total of 775 feedback reports were collected for 37 participants. There was no significant difference between the feedback scores of the evaluators as well as the occupation groups [p > 0.05]. There was a strong positive and statistically significant correlation between trainer and peer [r = 0.73, p < 0.001]. Consequently, there were no differences in the evaluations of presentation skills between different stakeholders. Trainers should use the video recording method to self-evaluate their presentation skills, and they should invite their peers from time to time to improve their own personal development by using peer review methods

Perceived self-efficacy and academic performance of medical students at Ataturk university, Turkey

To determine the association of perceived self-efficacy with academic performance of pre-clinical medical students. A cross-sectional analytical study. Medical Education Department, Ataturk University, Turkey, from March to May 2012. Participating students were members of the first to third year medical students class considered to be preclinical years at Ataturk University. A validated and reliable questionnaire consisted of 10 questions applied to assess the general self-efficacy of the medical students in pre-clinical years and evaluate whether their self-efficacy has relation to their academic performance. Responses and studied variables were compared using ANOVA and Pearson correlation test as applicable. The mean scores of three consecutive examinations were compared with self-efficacy mean scores of three classes. A validated and reliable questionnaire was used for assessment of self-efficacy. There was no correlation found in between mean examination scores and self-efficacy mean scores in first year [r = -0.11, p = 0.276], second year [r = 0.20, p = 0.180], and third year [r = -0.040, p = 0.749]. However, comparison of mean scores between male and female demonstrated significant difference [p = 0.001] and males dominant in self-efficacy scores. The results illustrate in pre-clinical years at medical schools the general self-efficacy does not play any role in their performance