Librarians Flip for Students: Teaching Searching Skills to Medical Students Using a Flipped Classroom Approach

Med Ref Serv Q. 2018 Apr-Jun;37(2):119-131. doi: 10.1080/02763869.2018.1439184.

Abstract

This article describes the development of a flipped classroom instructional module designed by librarians to teach first- and second-year medical students how to search the literature and find evidence-based articles. The pre-class module consists of an online component that includes reading, videos, and exercises relating to a clinical case. The in-class sessions, designed to reinforce important concepts, include various interactive activities. The specifics of designing both components are included for other health sciences librarians interested in presenting similar instruction. Challenges encountered, particularly in the live sessions, are detailed, as are the results of evaluations submitted by the students, who largely enjoyed the online component. Future plans are contingent on solving technical problems encountered during the in-class sessions.

Keywords: Evidence-based medicine; PubMed; flipped classroom; instruction; lifelong learning; medical students; online tutorials; self-directed learning.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Computer-Assisted Instruction / methods*
  • Curriculum
  • Education, Medical / methods*
  • Evidence-Based Practice / education*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Librarians
  • Libraries, Medical / organization & administration*
  • Library Services / organization & administration*
  • Male
  • Search Engine / statistics & numerical data*
  • Students, Medical
  • Young Adult