This paper describes the design of a new practical class in pharmaceutical chemistry, which creatively guides the students through the subject area of physical and analytical sciences with the help of a 'virtual client'. The design focuses on the active integration of knowledge and professional skills in an area which has been seen to be typically…

This article presents the structure of the organic chemistry laboratory Course "Synthesis and Extraction of Drugs" that is included in Modena University (Italy) in the third year of the five-year "Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies" degree program. This course is unique in its kind, and it aims to provide students with…

Describes an approach to problem-based learning (PBL) in the pharmacy curriculum that utilizes electronic communications to reduce the personnel costs associated with PBL. Comparison with convention PBL found substantial reduction in personnel time. Discusses application as a supplement to didactic instruction and the method's feasibility for both…

A study investigated the effectiveness of incorporating discussion groups and problem solving in a first-year pharmaceutical dosage-forms course. Students responded positively to the group discussions focusing on problem solving and the discussion summaries, which demonstrated the diversity of approaches to problem solving and focused their…

Describes the educational quality assurance program implemented in South Africa in 1995 and its effects on pharmacy education, including development of outcomes-based competency standards for entry-level pharmacists. Describes an integrated, problem-based pharmacy program established jointly between formerly non-white and white institutions and…

Discusses how information literacy efforts at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences have been supported by national trends within health science education to incorporate evidence-based medicine and problem-based learning into the curriculum. Describes effects on librarians, including requests for more instruction, creating…

A proposed problem-based course in clinical diabetes therapy at a pharmacy school is outlined. The interdisciplinary course requires students to develop or reformulate declarative and procedural knowledge in such a way that students' cognitive strategies are enhanced. Several sample clinical cases are appended. (MSE)

Describes development and evaluation of eight computerized problem-based learning (PBL) cases in medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutics concepts. Case versions either incorporated concept maps emphasizing key ideas or did not. Student performance on quizzes did not differ between the different case versions and was similar to that of students who…

A pharmacy school large-group (110 students) course in pharmacokinetics was designed to incorporate small-group team-based problem solving. The method allows students to learn material through traditional lecture, research the topic further, discuss the information gained, and apply the learning to specific cases in a manner that promotes…

The process of revising a University of Toronto (Canada) final-year undergraduate pharmacy therapeutics course to incorporate the principles of pharmaceutical care and problem-based learning is detailed. The final course outline and results of a course evaluation are also included. (MSE)

A graduate pharmacy course in experimental design for clinical research is described. Students work in groups to design clinically feasible, statistically valid studies on assigned problems. Individual students also perform statistical analyses on data sets generated from similar clinical studies conducted by faculty. Observations about grading…

Describes the problem-based learning methodology used at Idaho State University College of Pharmacy. Objectives of the four-semester course sequence are to emphasize fundamental basic science concepts, develop a system for pharmaceutical diagnosis, facilitate development of clinical problem-solving skills before clerkship, foster team-oriented…

A University of Toronto (Canada) fourth-year pharmacy course on drug abuse and dependence focuses on pharmacists' role in detection and prevention and on student knowledge of assessment and treatment. The course is case or problem based and uses a combination of self, peer, and instructor evaluation on aspects of student performance. (MSE)

A third-year pharmacology course in a doctoral pharmacy program that is case based and intended for a large class is described. Aspects discussed include learning objectives, course organization, classroom activities, case selection and design, faculty involvement, grading, and areas identified for improvement. (MSE)

A large-group (110 students) pharmaceutics course, designed to use small-group case-based problem solving to address pharmaceutical manufacturing problems, is described; and student response to the course is examined. The 11 case studies used in the curriculum are summarized. The peer evaluation form is included. (MSE)