Use of constructivist approach for medical education: Review of literature

Abstract

Background: In order to improve the quality of medical education, medical faculties of the universities are searching for better pedagogical approaches. To determine the frequency of the articles about new approaches in medical education is our main objective in this study. Method: An exclusive search was conducted in PubMed and other life science journals for biomedical articles. Total of 120 articles were comprised the term constructivism. 6 were conducted between 1980-1989, 41 were conducted between 1990-1999 73 were conducted between 2000-2007. Total of 44 articles were found to include the term IBL. Most of the research (n=32) were conducted in the last decade whereas. Total of 3080 articles were cited that included the term PBL. PBL was the most commonly encountered teaching strategy on the 21st. century (n=2133). Total of 1030 articles were found to comprise the term CL. CL was the most commonly encountered learning strategy on the 1980's (n=161). Conclusion: It is evident that there has been a considerable increase in research about constructivist teaching and learning in the medical field from 1980's to the 21st. Century. More research about constructivism need to be published in the medical journals.