Enhancing Medical Information Science Education through Interactive Learning Methods: A Policy Brief

Background. Active teaching and learning methods can significantly enhance teaching effectiveness. Despite the emphasis in numerous studies, library and information science faculty members continue to use traditional passive teaching methods, such as lectures. This policy brief aims to highlight the importance of and strategies to utilization of innovative and active teaching methods in the curriculum for enhancement of education. Methods. To prepare this policy brief, evidence from an original cross-sectional descriptive study and data collected from previously published studies in databases were used. To provide internal evidence, a multi-instrument cross-sectional study was conducted, gathering teaching methods employed by faculty members from various universities through a field study and questionnaire. In the next stage, a focus group discussion was conducted using applied teaching methods through interviews with 10 experts (faculty members and experts in the field of higher education), continuing until theoretical saturation was reached. To collect external evidence, a systematic review and search of published literature were conducted using MeSH keywords in Scopus, ERIC, Google Scholar, and the Iranian databases of SID and Magiran. Results. Policy options were extracted, including revising the medical library and information education curriculum, developing active teaching skills among faculty members, and establishing an evaluation system and educational incentives. Conclusion. Considering the expansion and application of modern and active teaching methods and the benefits of such teaching methods in the learning rate of learners, it is necessary to revise the curriculum of the medical library and information science field and include the active teaching method in the lesson plan of each course, and the groups should also take action to ensure the proper implementation of the use of active methods through educational evaluation and monitoring and providing the necessary incentives for promoting the faculty and providing educational grants.