Self-Directed Learning Versus Traditional Learning in Clinical Setting: A Study at Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology

Abstract

Objective: To compare the outcome of self directed learning to the traditional learning in terms of academic performance in
clinical setting by using diabetic ocular fundus findings among fourth year MBBS students.

Study Design: Quasi-experimental study.

Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces institute of Ophthalmology, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from May to Nov 2019.

Methodology: After taking consent, data was collected from 50 students through multiple choice questions based pre-test and
post-test by non probability convenient sampling. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 22.0.

Results: Out of total students, 28 (56%) students were male and 22 (44%) were females. Mean age was 22.15±3.26 years. Both
the groups showed improvement in their academic performance as p-value <0.001, but SDL group showed more improvement
as compared to the traditional learning group.

Conclusion: Self directed learning is better as compared to the traditional teaching as it promotes conceptual learning so it is
important to work on this issue.