Welcome to Dr. Prinster’s Lab

Dr. Steve Prinster’s research lab at Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine (Noorda-COM) investigates innovative approaches to medical education, with a focus on how collaborative learning environments influence student performance, engagement, and attitudes. The lab emphasizes rigorous data collection, behavioral analysis, and the development of evidence-based teaching practices.

                           Dr. Steve Prinster

Investigating Pods and Quick-Check Quizzes in Medical Education

Principal Investigator: Dr. Steve Prinster
Co-Investigators: Parker Ballard, Dr. Jamie Jensen

Dr. Prinster’s primary research project evaluates a novel instructional model that replaces traditional in-person lectures with collaborative learning groups—referred to as “pods”—supported by short instructional videos and quick-check quizzes. This study examines how pod dynamics, participation behaviors, and quiz performance relate to overall academic success.

Research Objectives

Aim 1: Understand Student Attitudes and Behaviors

The project analyzes both qualitative and quantitative data collected through surveys and interviews with OMS1 and OMS2 students. The goal is to characterize how students perceive pod learning and quick-check quizzes and to identify behavioral patterns that shape the learning experience.

Aim 2: Identify Predictors of Academic Success

The research evaluates whether pod attendance, collaborative behaviors, and quiz performance can predict academic outcomes. Advanced statistical methods—including structural equation modeling, regression, and cluster analysis—are used to determine which factors correlate most strongly with student achievement.

Significance

This work provides critical insight into how collaborative learning influences knowledge retention, peer teaching, and overall academic performance in medical education. By understanding how students interact within pods, the research aims to inform the creation of improved training materials and instructional strategies that foster effective group learning.

Methodology

Data is collected throughout the 2024–2025 academic year from first- and second-year medical students. Methods include surveys, interviews, attendance tracking, and statistical modeling to explore relationships between pod behaviors and academic outcomes. Participants are compensated with gift cards for completed study components.

Expected Outcomes

The project’s primary outcome is the development of evidence-based training resources designed to strengthen pod-based learning. Additional outcomes include:

  • A detailed characterization of pod behaviors and dynamics

  • Identification of key predictors of academic success

  • Predictive models linking pod engagement to performance