"PBL on 'roids" : application of an adapted constructivist learning environment survey to investigate the perceptions of students in a community-based undergraduate obstetrics learning placement

• Main Author: Marcus, J. K. (Jason Kirk)
• Other Authors: Leibowitz, B.
• Format: Others
• Language: en_ZA
• Published: Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch 2011
• Subjects: CLES; Obstetrics; Constructivist Learning Environment Survey; Dissertations > Obstetrics and gynaecology; Theses > Obstetrics and gynaecology
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/6646

Thesis (MPhill)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. === ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: Community-based placement of students provides an ideal opportunity to develop constructivist learning environments for learning. Students are placed in a low risk obstetric care facility where they required to interview, examine and manage uncomplicated pregnancies under supervision of a lecturer. Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the appropriateness of using a validated Constructivist Learning Environment Survey (CLES) to gauge the perceptions of students in a community-based health sciences placement. A further aim of the study was to evaluate whether the learning environment was compliant with constructivism. Methods: An adapted CLES was administered to 99 students and 44 students were interviewed using the instrument scales as a schema. Results: The surveys were analysed and mean scores at or above 20 were obtained, where the 5 different scales would have a maximum score of 30 each. No gender or racial differences were elicited from the survey responses. Interview data supported the data of the survey that demonstrated the constructivist nature of the learning environment. Conclusion: The CLES appears to be an appropriate and useful instrument in evaluating a community-based constructivist learning environment in low-risk obstetric care. Practice Points: Learning environment research instruments developed for other settings may be appropriate to use in more specific training in health sciences education. The adapted CLES proved useful in evaluating a constructivist clinical learning environment.