Comparative study of traditional blackboard teaching over PowerPoint teaching in physiology among 1st year medical students

ABSTRACT

Background: Lectures have always been the most popularly used teaching-learning method since time immemorial. However recently in today’s computer age, PowerPoint method has gained popularity over traditional blackboard teaching method. The use of the blackboard by a teacher depended on teacher’s ability to draw and write on the board. It provided a variety of opportunities for modifying the presentation of the subject content. Chalkboard aid is inexpensive, easy to clean and reuse, allows students to keep pace with the teacher, and is not dependent on electricity. PPT has the advantages of using colors, fonts, diagrams, and animations. Aim and Objective: The aim of this study was to compare blackboard teaching method with PowerPoint teaching method by pre- and post-questionnaire and evaluation of feedback from 1st year MBBS students in the subject of physiology. Materials and Methods: This comparative study was conducted at Nootan Medical College and Research Center, Visnagar, Gujarat on October–December 2019 as a part of Project for the Advance Course in Medical Education. A total of 150 students were participated and their consent was taken. After that, students were divided randomly into two groups, Group A and Group B, each having 75 students. Two different topics with same difficulty level were taught to both groups by both the methods with pre- and post-test of five multiple choice questions. After that, feedback questionnaire with ten questions was given to both groups regarding both the methods. Results of pre- and post-test were analyzed by paired t-test. Results: Mean post-test result for blackboard method was slightly higher than that for PowerPoint Method. Values are statistically significant when analyzed by Paired t-test. Conclusion: Blackboard teaching method is preferred over PowerPoint teaching method in the learning physiology by 1st year MBBS students. Blackboard teaching method has more retention rate, better understanding of topic, and more interactive, effective, and sufficient time available for taking notes.