Near-peer Facilitated Learning in a Dental School: A Student Reflection
Year: 2016
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the value of initial student near-peer directed study sessions for a dental school biomedical science core course.Methods: A standardized pre-post questionnaire was administered prior to and immediately after the designated block of study sessions to collect subjective, experiential participant response to near-peer study sessions. Comparison analysis of participants’ final grades in the course selected for coverage in near-peer study sessions was retrospectively performed.
Results: 17% of first year dental students voluntarily participated in the near-peer study sessions. Frequency of participation in the study sessions seemed inversely related to student confidence levels and grade achievement in the biomedical science core course.
Conclusions: Near-peer led study sessions in a dental school are valuable to students who enter dental school with low confidence in their pre-dental educational preparation. Survey instruments that gauge student confidence levels at baseline may be predictive of student need for near-peer or other additional learning opportunities.
Key Words: Basic sciences; Critical thinking; Dental school; Near-peer
Authors: Gregory D. Luk, Mary H. Glasheen, Ryan Quock
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2564029242