Use a Variety of Teaching Methods

There are a variety of methods to teach:

1. Priming the Learner: briefly prepare students for patient encounters by identifying key expectations and focusing the observation and feedback on those expectations
2. Role Modeling: provide a guided opportunity for students to observe you in action
   1. Let the students know what they will be observing
   2. Consciously demonstrate skills
   3. Take time afterwards to debrief
3. Teach in the presence of a patient: this allows you to correct and/or expand on missing history, to demonstrate a focused physical exam, and to apply clinical reasoning

Quick Tips

• Ask students about their past learning experiences
• Get to know how individual students learn best in order to maximize their learning
  
• Experiment with various teaching methods, as found in the Teaching Strategies section of this website
• Select an appropriate teaching method based on the content you will be teaching

Authors: Mandi Sehgal, MD, Christine Clevenger, Ed.S.

References

1. Ralhan S, Bhogal P, Bhatnagar G, et al. Effective teaching skills – how to become a better medical educator. BMJ. 2012; 344:e765.
2. Pettit J, Rosenbaum M. Strengthening Your Teaching Toolbox. MedEdPORTAL Publications; 2014.