Students as Educators
This 2.5-credit fourth-year medical student elective, offered through the Woodward Center for Excellence in Health Sciences Education, serves as a foundation for learning the principles of practical clinical, classroom and small-group teaching techniques. This course provides training in educational methods and an introduction to theory to help medical students become effective educators. Students apply what they have learned about research-based teaching practices as they work with first, second and/or third year medical students.
Course Activities
Students will:
- Choose at least one teaching opportunity
- Complete required readings
- Attend three teaching workshop sessions and debriefing session(s)
- Teach medical students and get observed at least once
- Reflect on their learning and teaching in discussion and in two papers
Teaching Opportunities
- Problem-Based Learning (PBL)
- Anatomy Lab
- Foundations of Patient-Centered Care (FPCC)
- Science of Health Systems (SHS)
- Interprofessional Education (IPE)
- Integrated Medical Sciences
- Kienle Groups
Required Core Workshop Sessions (All Course Participants)
Becoming a Successful Educator (2 hours)
The goal of this session is for fourth-year medical students to begin to form an understanding of how effective educators structure learning opportunities and provide useful feedback to their learners.
Science of Learning and Adult Learning Theory (2 hours)
The goal of this session is for fourth-year medical students to begin to form an understanding of how teaching philosophy and adult learning theories inform the practice of adult education.
Learn More
Email StudentsAsEducators@pennstatehealth.psu.edu for details.