| The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent these higher level competencies were being addressed in the curricular/teaching practices of medical technology education. Fry's Learning Environmental Diagnostic (LED) instrument and Learner's Questionnaire were used to determine to what extent teachers were providing experiences in each of the four modes of David Kolb's model of Experiential Learning (affective, perceptual, symbolic, and behavioral).;The medical technology curriculum at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston was reviewed and courses were categorized as to: (1) basic science courses, (2) lower level/junior medical technology courses, and (3) higher level/senior medical technology courses. Two courses from each category were randomly selected. Each instructor involved in these courses was asked to complete the LED and participate in an interview concerning the LED during the last week of the fall semester. Students were asked to participate by completing the Learner's Questionnaire during the last week of the fall semester. The researcher observed each course's classroom environment a minimum of once a week during the semester. Notes of all activities and discussions were recorded and an LED was completed by the observer.;The analysis of the data led to the conclusion that the higher level competencies are being addressed in the curricular and teaching practices of medical technology education in that instructors are providing experiences in each of the four modes of Kolb's model. The basic science courses were observed to have greater balance among the modes, for the scores varied only slightly in each category. As the course levels advanced to the more discipline specific courses, there was greater emphasis on the Symbolic and Behavioral modes. This is a critical issue to be considered for the profession. Therefore, the researcher emphasizes the need for educators to develop environments that provide for a balance of the four modes thereby enabling the profession to meet the challenges of the future. |
