The freshmen of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery have voiced their concerns about the new Problem Based Learning (PBL) method.
In the letter to Dean Dr. Angeles Tan-Alora, the four freshmen class presidents— Joanne Punsalan, John Hubert Pua, Richard Lim, and Margaret Olalia— suggested remedies to their problems.
The new system, which relies mostly on modular-based teaching, involves four phases: conceptualization of the study, research, laboratory skills training, and the correlation phase where the professors provide supplementary lectures to the students.
Since their professors try to congest different topics in three hours, the students said lectures at the tail-end of the session are often delivered in haste.
“More often than not, classes go on overtime just to be able to finish the broad lessons assigned for the day,” the letter stated.
To facilitate better understanding of the topic, the students said the lecturers should emphasize important topics and follow the outline given to the students.
Furthermore, they proposed to extend the one or two-hour skills lab session and lessen the topics being discussed in each session.
In addition, the students said facilitators or lecturers should guide the students more instead of leaving them on their own.
In addition, the students also complained that the laboratory lacked equipment. There were instances when 30 students would be assigned to a particular instrument, which was often konked-out.
Moreover, they complained about the process of assessing students after tutorials.
With the new system, they said, even if two students from two different sub-groups exert the same effort in their preparation and participation, they do not receive the same grade.
“We cannot help but make comparisons among ourselves after each tutorial. There are some who have received perfect 100’s, when some students, no matter what they do, can’t get past the 80 mark,” the letter stated.
The Varsitarian tried to get Tan-Alora’s side, but she was unavailable for interview. Teodoro Lorenzo A. Fernandez
