TeL in MedEd - Start by catching Attention, Then show Value, to Know, Do and Feel

TeL in MedEd - catch Attention, show Value from Poh-Sun Goh

TeL in MedEd - catch Attention, show Value, to Know, Do and Feel from Poh-Sun Goh

TeL in MedEd - catch Attention, show Value, to Know, Do and Feel, Start here from Poh-Sun Goh

Engaging Students, and Creating a Buzz in the Classroom - Both Physical, and Online

Poh-Sun Goh (6 October 2020 @ 0702am)

Reflecting on my experience as a student, and teacher , one immediate idea comes to mind.

That it is relatively easy when the student is ‘hungry’ for knowledge, to learn, to become well trained and skilled.

These students will learn from, and engage enthusiastically with content and a learning activity involving any medium (text, audio, illustrations, multimedia and video, Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality content).

Often an instructor presents the content, and training scenario, and steps aside.

These students will engage in discovery and active self learning, search for more information,

Ask questions, and independently search for answers, by asking peers, their seniors, teachers, 

Looking up answers in books, and online; then self-evaluating answers, and practicing skills, 

While reflecting on feedback constantly, in order to improve their skills, and deepen knowledge.

We are generally fortunate in health professions education, with our undergraduates, postgraduates, and lifelong learners; who are generally motivated, committed learners, self selected for practice by a motivation to serve their patients, and give back to society.

For less motivated, or disinterested students; often all that is needed is to capture their attention, and show value, either in the physical classroom, or online. 

As students, we engage with content, and a learning process when this is clearly seen to be relevant, and useful. Making the learning process fun is a bonus.

To use an analogy, imagine the last time you had to learn something because you ‘Had to’, compared with

‘Wanted to” or because of a ‘Passion and Deep Interest in a Topic’.

As teachers, we can create, and curate (with attribution) content that captures interest, and show value. Design learning activities, and environments, both in physical and virtual online spaces to facilitate self-directed learning, reinforced by interaction with the instructor and peers in group activities, and application of what has been learnt, with feedback, and to promote reflection, and assimilation.

Goh, PS. 'Medical Educator Roles of the Future'. Medical Science Educator. Online publication 30 September 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-020-01086-w 

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40670-020-01086-w