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Students' Conceptions of Constructivist Learning: A Comparison between a Traditional and a Problem-based Learning Curriculum

Students' Conceptions of Constructivist Learning: A Comparison between a Traditional and a... This study investigated students' conceptions of constructivist learning activities in a problem-based learning (PBL) and a traditional curriculum. We examined whether students who have chosen for a problem-based curriculum have different conceptions of constructivist assumptions compared to students who have chosen to be enrolled in a traditional, lecture-based curriculum when they enter university. Although constructivism represents an influential view of learning, studies investigating how students conceptualize this perspective have not been conducted before. A structural equation modelling approach was adopted to test the hypothesized model in both student populations and to calculate latent means. Results suggested that students in the PBL environment agree more on constructivist assumptions of cooperative learning and the use of authentic problems, while students in the traditional curriculum acknowledge the importance of motivation to learn more. It is discussed that conceptions of constructivist learning activities can act as an important moderator of PBL effects and should be considered in examining the effects of PBL and probably in all comparative education research. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Advances in Health Sciences Education Springer Journals

Students' Conceptions of Constructivist Learning: A Comparison between a Traditional and a Problem-based Learning Curriculum

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References (41)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 2006 by Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.
Subject
Education; Medical Education
ISSN
1382-4996
eISSN
1573-1677
DOI
10.1007/s10459-006-9015-5
pmid
16933109
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

This study investigated students' conceptions of constructivist learning activities in a problem-based learning (PBL) and a traditional curriculum. We examined whether students who have chosen for a problem-based curriculum have different conceptions of constructivist assumptions compared to students who have chosen to be enrolled in a traditional, lecture-based curriculum when they enter university. Although constructivism represents an influential view of learning, studies investigating how students conceptualize this perspective have not been conducted before. A structural equation modelling approach was adopted to test the hypothesized model in both student populations and to calculate latent means. Results suggested that students in the PBL environment agree more on constructivist assumptions of cooperative learning and the use of authentic problems, while students in the traditional curriculum acknowledge the importance of motivation to learn more. It is discussed that conceptions of constructivist learning activities can act as an important moderator of PBL effects and should be considered in examining the effects of PBL and probably in all comparative education research.

Journal

Advances in Health Sciences EducationSpringer Journals

Published: Aug 25, 2006

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