Orienting student using a case-based instructional approach: a case study.(Case study)

Purpose: Orientation facilitates the transition to a new academic program to meet the need of new students to know programmatic items such as academic expectations, courses, policies and procedures. We used a problem based learning (PBL) approach to introduce our students to the expectations of our intensive 10-week Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) Preparation Program.

Method: There were 17 participants in this study. A PBL case about five disadvantaged and underrepresented students preparing to retake the MCAT was used to deepen understanding of the medical school application process, the structure of the MCAT to motivate and help participants develop appropriate strategies for preparing and taking the exam. The participants were divided into 3 groups that worked through the 3-session case during a one-week orientation. After the orientation, a survey instrument consisting of ten 5-point Likert items and eight openended items was administered to the participants. Student comments regarding the case, faculty observation of process and group dynamics were also collected.

Results: Overall class mean of 4.50 on a 5-point Likert Scale and the overwhelmingly positive student comments indicate that participants perceived the PBL experience to be highly valuable. The faculty observed an increased confidence and enthusiasm in the students as they progressed through the PBL case.

Conclusion: A group of disadvantaged and underrepresented premedical students found that confronting a PBL case for preparing this group for the MCAT was valuable. It is likely that PBL could be adapted and used to promote the preparation for other standardized tests, and for other populations.

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Orientation is a critical time for students in transition (Knott, 1978). Formal orientation sessions employ a variety of instructional approaches to acquaint students with the expectations of an academic program (Howe & Perry; Smith & Zimmer, 1978). This paper describes the use of problem-based learning as an orientation tool in a program designed to help students from disadvantaged and underrepresented groups prepare to retake the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).

The MCAT is a major hurdle for students seeking admission to medical school. In common with most standardized admissions tests, MCAT scores disproportionately screen out applicants from disadvantaged and underrepresented groups, relative to their demographic importance. It is now generally recognized that, increasing the diversity of the physician workforce will increase the numbers of physicians interested in working in medically underserved communities, with corresponding benefits to public health (Nickens, Ready & Petersdorf, 1994; Institute of Medicine, 2002). Selectively helping to boost MCAT performance is a strategy to strengthen admission credentials of students from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds. Premedical postbaccalaureate programs have addressed this issue, with varying degrees of success, and have served to expand the pool of successful medical school applicants (Whitten, 1999). Since 1995, Indiana University School of Medicine has operated an internally funded premedical postbaccalaureate program which enrolls applicants from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds.