Abstract:

The University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) has bet for a cooperative and dynamic model of teaching-learning, centered on the student (Ikaskuntza kooperatiboa eta dinamikoa - IKD), proposed for the development of the curricula of the university studies in the UPV/EHU.
One of these new teaching-learning methodologies introduced in our faculties has been the use of cases in teaching in competences.
In the first level of the grade of Medicine, we have faced the students to a case based learning experience in the subject of Medical Psychology. Our purpose was to make them strive to resolve a situation which has no one only right answer by using the critical analysis, decision making, social interaction and their own creativity. It is worth mentioning that this experience allows the improving of communication skills, as well as those written communication skills also. Ethical reasoning is an essential aspect to be to work on also. All this parameters are interacting together in order to achieve the best solution to the problem, giving adequate reason for it.
Students are more involved in class, in the task, in the subject and it is an opportunity for them to an early contact with real/in vitro experiences. It is a very highly valued activity by students.

Keywords:

Case based learning, medicine, communication skills.