Teaching Microbiology through Application Based Learning

Microbiology is usually taught in classroom with little exposure to practical’s and clinical aspects. This makes the subject clinically irrelevant as students fail to understand the utility of the subject.

Study was conducted in Department of Microbiology by applying a new teaching- learning method to know about practical application of hospital waste management through project work. Total of 95 students participated in this study. The whole batch was divided into small batches. Pre Test and Post Test Questionnaires were given to the whole batch. Conventional lecture was delivered to 72 students and the other students were subjected to hospital project work. This hospital project work involved active learning by the students.

According to students, this method has many advantages. The visual impression leads to better understanding of the subject. There is active involvement of students leading to self-learning. As it is a focused learning, retention of knowledge is for a longer time. Hospital project work makes learning interesting and effective. There is ease of understanding as doubts are cleared by direct observation.

All faculty members felt that this method will help in better understanding of the subject. Everybody felt that this method is feasible in undergraduate teaching with some efforts. Only hindrance may be lack of time, and lack of manpower. However there are many advantages such as students learning better with practical demonstration, learning with interest thus this method stimulates self-learning.