Considering that the dominant teaching methods in Manual Therapy are traditional methods that preclude the integration of newly acquired materials with basic knowledge and their application and given the importance of implementing learner-centered approaches, we sought to investigate the effect of the FC teaching method on manual therapy students’ learning perception and engagement. And specifically, to investigate the effect of the FC approach on students’ behavioral, cognitive and emotional engagement. In addition to this, we gathered students’ perceptions on the quality of the education received.
A cross-sectional survey study was carried out (Ethics Committee Code FIS-2022–15). Forty-two (n=42) students enrolled in the subject of Manual Therapy of the Physiotherapy undergraduate program of Universitat Internacional de Catalunya during the academic year 2022-23 participated in the study. A total of 8 sessions of 2,5 hours duration each were instructed according to the FC methodology. Before each face-to-face class was held, the teacher uploaded to the Moodle educational platform preparatory literature and videos of the techniques that were going to be seen in class. Once students arrived at the face-to-face class, students performed a brief online test (iRAT). After that the teacher reviewed the contents of the videos in an interactive way together with the students and they practiced the techniques in groups. Students’ engagement and course experience perceptions were registered through two questionnaires.
An overall mean value of 4.7 in the emotional engagement questionnaire meant that students were emotionally connected to the class, finding contents and topics attractive and interesting. Students actively participated in the class and had the intention to do well, showing high levels of behavioral engagement. Students had to use a lot of critical thinking in class in order to transfer the theoretical contents of the videos seen at home to the face-to-face practical dynamics, demonstrating high levels of cognitive engagement. Results show a clear preference for flipped model (mean= 4.4) versus traditional model (mean= 2.8)
FC methodologies create flexible learning environments and provide active learning activities leading to high levels of behavioral, emotional and cognitive engagement. This meant students showed great capacity for understanding the subject`s contents, high self-regulation and deep learning strategies, as well as great interest and positive reactions to teachers, peers and the learning environment.
The use of active teaching methodologies such as FC in manual therapy allows us to better adapt to the learning needs of new generations of students, allowing more flexibility for learning at their own pace, and promoting content retention and student engagement in the learning process itself.
Perception
Engagement
