Project-Based Learning for Physician Assistant Students: A Retrospective Assessment of the Masterʼs Paper Project at the Baylor College of Medicine Physician Assistant Program

Fasser, Carl E.; Waters, Vicki; Erdman, Katherine M.; Nadalo, Dana; Spence, L.; Love, Elissa; DeSandro, Stephanie; Stewart, Wendi; Johnson, David A.; Holcomb, David J.

doi:10.1097/01367895-200920040-00002

Cited by 2 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…The rationale underlying the undergraduate degree project in dental and other professional educations is that research projects are opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate scientific and professional expertise. The findings in this study were similar to opinions expressed in earlier policy statements and in previous studies . In the documents from the Swedish dental schools, the students were, for example, requested to formulate a problem or hypothesis, apply a relevant scientific method, analyse the research literature and empirical data, express critical reflections and write a short thesis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The rationale underlying this greater emphasis on research projects in undergraduate courses is part of a wider movement to develop research expertise and improve professional practice in dentistry and other health professions . According to a Swedish government bill, the degree project should be integrated in higher education as it shows if a student ‘not only has acquired knowledge but also can apply and develop these with the degree of independence that is required for practicing the professional work that the education prepares for’ .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The degree project is part of students' scientific training as it enables them to develop the skills needed to formulate problems, to write and read critically research literature, to analyse texts and empirical data and to write coherent research reports. It can help to produce dentists and other health professionals who are able to apply the results of research to patient care . The degree project also gives students the opportunity to deepen their professional knowledge and to develop professional theories and practices .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Undergraduate degree projects in the Swedish dental schools: a documentary analysis

Franzén

Brown

2013

Eur J Dental Education

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The documents from the four dental schools revealed similar views on the purposes of the projects and provided similar assessment criteria. The students were requested to formulate an odontological problem, apply a relevant scientific method, analyse texts and empirical data, express critical reflections and write a short thesis. The students were free to choose topics. There were differences between the dental schools on the emphasis placed on practical uses of the projects and theoretical background of the projects. Two of the schools insisted on rigid rules of completing and writing the project yet paradoxically emphasised creativity. There were wide variations in the required length of the project report. The report may prove useful to dental schools in other countries who are about to design undergraduate research projects.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Undergraduate degree projects in the Swedish dental schools: a documentary analysis

Franzén

Brown

2013

Eur J Dental Education

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“…The degree project is related to the students' future professional work as it provides students with the opportunity to gain deeper knowledge within a topic and to develop theories and work practices relevant to the profession in question . Moreover, the degree project functions as a preparation for postgraduate studies as it implies that students are conducting a research project , which gives them an opportunity to develop research skills .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The undergraduate degree project – preparing dental students for professional work and postgraduate studies?

Franzén

2014

Eur J Dental Education

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Objectives: The undergraduate degree project is a requisite part of higher education in Sweden, designed to prepare students for professional work and postgraduate studies. This article examines the extent to which the degree project in Swedish dental education helps students achieve these purposes. The focus was on the students' choice of topics and research methods as well as their ability to reflect on the implications of their results for dental practice.Methods: Degree projects from three of the four Swedish dental schools were analysed using content analysis. Results:The students' topics concerned clinical dentistry, biomedicine, educational issues and public oral health. Quantitative research methods were used more often than qualitative ones. Some of the degree projects were based on literature reviews. Students demonstrated shortcomings in their reflections on the implications of their results for dental practice. The level of reflection was particularly low in one of the schools; this may be because the students in this school were not expected to reflect on the results. Conclusions:The degree project gives the students an opportunity to develop their knowledge on a topic relevant to dentistry, to be trained in conducting research and to reflect on scientific knowledge in relation to dentistry. However, this study shows the need of assessment criteria that urge the students to reflect on the link between science and clinical work and motivate them to learn to reflect so they become critical thinkers. It is also suggested that dental students should learn more about qualitative research methods.

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Project-Based Learning for Physician Assistant Students: A Retrospective Assessment of the Masterʼs Paper Project at the Baylor College of Medicine Physician Assistant Program

Cited by 2 publications

References 10 publications

Undergraduate degree projects in the Swedish dental schools: a documentary analysis

Undergraduate degree projects in the Swedish dental schools: a documentary analysis

The undergraduate degree project – preparing dental students for professional work and postgraduate studies?

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