PROBLEM BASED LEARNING. University of Maastricht presentation, 6/28.

Next to the visit to Bernard Lievegoed school, this was my favorite presentation. *Finally* I got to interact with colleagues in higher education, and not only that, they are completely devoted to what we call "team-based learning," which I learned from Dr. Larry Michaelsen at the University of Oklahoma, and practiced myself throughout my teaching career.

Drs. Ineke Wolfhagen and Diana Dolmans are educational researchers at the medical school of the University of Maastricht. They shared a presentation on "problem-based learning" with us. The University of Maastricht is only 35 years old. It was opened when the coal mines closed because, while there were several other universities (7 other medical schools) in Holland, it was felt there needed to be something in the south. The school was founded on the principle of problem-based learning. Students enter their medical school studies at the point we would call "freshman year" in college. Learning is active, self-regulated, contextual and collaborative. Students meet ten to a group with a trained facilitator. They are given a problem, then have two days or so to study and research on their own, then come back together to brainstorm and discuss the case. Research behind each phase of learning was shared in the presentation. The gist is that the *student* and not the teacher should play a central role in education. Results show that learning outcomes are comparable to the traditional model of education, but both teachers and students are highly satisfied with the experience.

The presentation was followed by a tour of medical skills laboratories. Life-sized models of humans (appropriate to the field of study) in labs are used to train students (from their first year in medical school). By Year Three, they are seeing real patients, though supervised by a faculty member. 

I support team-based learning, but wonder if students have an adequate foundation of theoretical knowledge in basic sciences by Year Three to be in clinical practice. I would like to read more about the Harvard University/Boston University 6-year medical program to see how their educational results compare to traditional medical schools.

Overall, our hosts have been very gracious, eager to share their knowledge and experience in education with us. The days have been long, but it has truly been an educational immersion experience that has provoked deep reflection.