Comparing the Effect of Lecture Combined with Question and Answer, and Team Member Teaching Design on Nursing Student's Achievements

Introduction: In nursing schools, lecture is usually used as the main teaching method. Cooperative learning is one of the common educational techniques. This study was conducted to compare the effect of Team Member Teaching Design (TMTD) versus lecture combined with question and answer, on nursing students' achievements. Methods: This pre-experimental study with two groups, pre and post-test design, was performed in Nursing School of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in 2004-2005. All nursing students who were in their second semester including 27 students from day courses and 20 from night courses participated in the study. Some sections of community health course were taught to two groups, one using TMTD technique and the other lecture combined with asking question. Students’ achievements were measured by pre and post-test. SPSS software was used for data analysis and the groups were compared by paired t-test and independent t-test. Results: The mean and standard deviation of students’ scores in TMTD and lecture combined with question and answer groups were 13±2.5 and 14.44±3.2 out of the total score 22, respectively. Although the students’ scores of both groups significantly increased in post-test, the scores of combined method group were significantly more than TMTD group. Conclusion: Lecture combined with question and answer compared with TMTD, was more effective on students’ achievements, but TMTD as an active teaching method had positive effects on students’ learning as well. It is recommended to use both methods in teaching.