Research-based teaching-learning method: a strategy to motivate and engage students in human physiology classes

摘要

Knowledge of human physiology is fundamentally important for health professionals, since it provides essential information about the functioning of the human body and itsphysiological conditions. However, in organizing the curriculaof most health courses, this discipline is separated from thesocial and applied sciences, with the contents studied in theclassroom typically being presented to the student in an abstract way. As a result, the student is unable to envisage thehuman being as a whole, considering all of its biopsychosocialaspects, and does not see the importance of the discipline ofphysiology for his/her future professional practice (1). Consequently, the teaching-learning of human physiology currentlyfaces great challenges. In addition, considering the increasingly dynamic profiles of the students, there is an ever greaterneed to adopt methodologies that attract their attention andenable teaching to be both integrative and effective. To thisend, teaching-learning methods that involve research can beuseful tools to increase interest and encourage the search forknowledge.