Students Outperform Faculty in Recognizing the Use of Active Learning Methods.

Abstract

The implementation of active learning methods poses challenges for both instructors and students. Despite institutional support, some educators may encounter difficulties in effectively incorporating this methodology into their teaching practices. We hypothesized that one contributing factor could be the misguided self-perception regarding their class methodology. The objective of this study was to assess whether instructors and students can accurately recognize the application of active learning methods during classes and to identify the characteristics of these classes that influence the satisfaction of both educators and learners. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted during the emergency remote teaching caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined 58 class sessions from a medical school program committed to active learning methodologies using an adapted version of the PORTAAL tool and administered post-class surveys to both instructors and students. Students, but not instructors, were able to accurately recognize the use of active learning methods. Additionally, class satisfaction reported by both instructors and students positively correlated with their self-perceived use of active learning method in the class, regardless of whether the perception was more accurate, as seen in the students' perceptions, or more inaccurate, as observed in instructors' misperceptions.