Spinello Elio, Fischbach Ronald
Department of Health Sciences, California State University, Northridge, CA 91331, USA.
Educ Health (Abingdon). 2004 Nov;17(3):365-73. doi: 10.1080/13576280400002783.
Although increasingly used as a modality in medical education, Problem-Based Learning (PBL) remains somewhat overlooked in the training of public health students (Pham & Blumberg, 2000). This project involved a pilot test of a web-based community simulation as a PBL platform in an undergraduate health behavior course.
To develop and pilot test a web-based computer simulation as an implementation of problem-based learning in an undergraduate public health behavior course.
Using a web-based simulation platform, a virtual community was designed in which the effects of a mock infectious disease outbreak could be studied and various interventions could be tested. Upon completion of the semester course, 14 undergraduate public health education students completed a survey and participated in a focus group to determine issues related to the simulation. Research focused on whether the simulation was perceived as motivating and which aspects were found to be confusing, ineffective or unrealistic.
Results of the study suggested that a PBL experience based on a community simulation may be effective in providing a motivating and interesting PBL tool for instructing undergraduate public health students. A majority of students agreed that the experience was more motivating and interesting than a more traditional assignment. Design recommendations include an emphasis on incorporating a rich multimedia background, realistic communication and project management tools and the capability for students to submit formatted documents. Further study of attitudinal differences and attainment of learning objectives is recommended between students participating in the simulation experience and those engaging in a traditional assignment.
尽管基于问题的学习（PBL）在医学教育中越来越多地被用作一种教学模式，但在公共卫生专业学生的培训中仍有些被忽视（范和布卢姆伯格，2000）。本项目涉及对一个基于网络的社区模拟进行试点测试，将其作为本科健康行为课程中的PBL平台。
开发并试点测试一个基于网络的计算机模拟，作为本科公共卫生行为课程中基于问题的学习的一种实施方式。
使用一个基于网络的模拟平台，设计了一个虚拟社区，在其中可以研究模拟传染病爆发的影响，并测试各种干预措施。在学期课程结束时，14名本科公共卫生教育专业学生完成了一项调查，并参加了一个焦点小组，以确定与模拟相关的问题。研究重点在于该模拟是否被认为具有激励性，以及哪些方面被认为令人困惑、无效或不现实。
研究结果表明，基于社区模拟的PBL体验可能有效地为本科公共卫生专业学生提供一种具有激励性和趣味性的PBL工具。大多数学生认为这种体验比传统作业更具激励性和趣味性。设计建议包括强调融入丰富的多媒体背景、现实的沟通和项目管理工具，以及学生提交格式化文档的能力。建议对参与模拟体验的学生和参与传统作业的学生之间的态度差异和学习目标达成情况进行进一步研究。
