A structured PBL tutorial involving small teams for teaching the human nervous system.

Background: The Human Nervous System and Behavior course at Harvard Medical School (HMS) incorporates a hybrid model of problem-based learning. Student preparation for and participation in the tutorial seemed to be insufficient.

Aims: We sought to increase student engagement in tutorial by creating a structured approach, which included assigned roles for students, weekly testing, formal cornerstone presentations, and a weekly self-assessment exercise. We wished to determine the students' and tutors' satisfaction with this structured approach as compared with the more traditional tutorial experienced in other courses at HMS.

Methods: For the first 4 years of the course, students (n = 160) were surveyed concerning their impressions of the quality of the structured approach in comparison with the traditional tutorial. In addition, they were surveyed concerning the cornerstone presentations and the self-assessment exercise. Tutors (n = 10) who had taught in both the traditional and structured tutorial formats were surveyed about their impressions of student performance as well as their own enjoyment in the structured format.

Results: Students and tutors found the structured approach superior to the previous method. Both groups noted increased student preparation, participation, and accountability. Tutors preferred teaching in the structured format.

Conclusions: The structured approach increased student accountability, preparation, and participation. Students and tutors preferred this tutorial experience over the previous approach.