Discerning Views

Abstract

Learning environment characteristics influence, to a degree, students' approaches to learning and the ways by which students achieve their personal goals. This study was undertaken at a large medical school to identify the major characteristics that students perceive to dominate their learning environment. Over a period of 2 years, 112 medical students were individually interviewed in order to obtain their personal views. These interviews were analyzed and categorized by emergent themes and provided rich descriptions of the perceived major influential environmental characteristics. It was found that students perceived that the structures of the learning environment fostered a highly competitive milieu, thus influencing their approach to learning. However, the processes of teaching were viewed more positively, and this somewhat ameliorated the learning experiences for the students.