Effectiveness of a project-based professional learning methodology in the Molecular Biology subject

Abstract

Background: the Molecular Biology subject has presented insufficiencies in the teaching-learning process Holguín Faculty of Medical Sciences, which require a solution.
Objective: to assess the effectiveness of a project-based professional learning methodology in the Molecular Biology subject as a way to improve the teaching-learning process.
Methods: a development investigation was carried out at the Holguín Faculty of Medical Sciences during the 2021 academic year. Theoretical methods were used: historical-logical, analytical-synthetic and inductive-deductive; Empirical ones: the documentary analysis and the record of the qualifications of the questions of the first call of the final exam of the subject. Statistical tests were performed on the results of the final evaluation. A project-based learning methodology was used for the implementation of Molecular Biology, applied to a part of the content of the analytical program of the subject, which used didactic guides for students and methodological orientations for teachers, with the support of complementary videos to the lectures and hidden curriculum contents, related to the basic-clinical link with a professional orientation.
Results: the final exam questions where its content was treated according to the learning project methodology showed significantly better results than those treated conventionally.
Conclusions: the project-based learning methodology for the Molecular Biology subject was determined feasible for its application and provided the necessary flexibility for the transition from face-to-face teaching to distance learning.