Evaluation of Integrated Lectures at Korea University, College of Medicine

Lee, Young Mee; Lee, Ki Jong; Lee, Yong Jin; Ahn, Duck Sun

Abstract

With the class of 2000, the College of Medicine at Korea University instituted a revised curriculum. The new revision combined the traditional, and discipline-oriented, curriculums into a newly integrated curriculum. The purpose of this study is to identify the problems of the newly introduced integrated lectures, and how to find ways to improve this curriculum. Overloaded lecture hours and content, insufficient functional integration between disciplines, unstructured handout, deficiency in reference material and lack of motivation were identified as problems for students. Most of the participants urged a more effective collaboration between the faculty members of individual disciplines. Basic and clinical disciplines must be integrated as thoroughly as possible to improve and stabilize the new curriculum. Also, overall lecture time should be diminished, thereby allowing students to actively pursue their own learning.