Problem-based learning approach with the application of online content and face-to-face teaching method is effective in building communities of practice (CoPs).
Davies AC and team has conducted a study to determine whether problem-based-learning (PBL) with the flipped style of teaching approach is effective in the formation of communities of practice (CoPs) or not.
The qualitative research study and a group-centered PBL integrated approach included eightclinical bioinformatics students from three cohortsgroups.Recruitment, interviews, and analysis was performed by the qualified researchers from the Manchester Institute of Education (MIE). Emails, WhatsApp, and other web-based forum were the means of communication between the students during the study period.
Each interview was around one hour, which included set of not more than 10 questions. The interview conversation was audio recorded, formally transcribed, and stored. The interviews revealed the experience and involvement of the students’.
Ten emergent themes were identified from the data. Research findings addressed questions like, what extent do the students experience isolation in practice, to what extent do CoPs exist within the cohorts, and whether the course design is involved in the development of CoPs.
The study concluded that the problem-based learning was more preferred than the traditional lecture-based learning. Additionally, PBL approach helped in the developing professional networks between the colleagues working in multidisciplinary teams within the workplace.
Reference:
Davies AC, Harris D, Banks-Gatenby A, Brass A. Problem-based learning in clinical bioinformatics education: Does it help to create communities of practice? PLoS Comput Biol. 2019 Jun 27; 15(6):e1006746.