Basics of Teaching and Learning

An introductory course for teachers in health professions

Department of Medical education, University Medical and Dental College organized a 4 week course titled “Basics of Teaching and Learning- an introductory course for teachers in health professions” as part of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program. Twenty faculty members from six different disciplines including MBBS, BDS, Doctor of Pharmacy, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Optometry and Food Sciences participated in the course from 12^th June to 7^th July 2012. Most of the participants were junior faculty members and had not attended any formal teacher training program before. Associate Professor Dr Tanzeela Khalid, Deputy Director DME was the course Director and Chief Facilitator. Associate Professor Dr Zahid Masood, Head Department of Community Medicine and Dr Sumera Badar, lecturer DME, Punjab Medical College participated as facilitators and resource persons. Prof Dr Saif-Ud-Din, Additional Director QEC and Head Department of Anatomy delivered a talk on Role of QEC. The course included four modules:

Module 1- Effective learning

Module 2- Planning an effective teaching session

Module3-Conducting an effective teaching session

Module 4- Assessment and evaluation of a teaching session

The objective of this course was to “develop our faculty members into effective teachers by helping them improve their teaching skills and professional attitudes”

Our goals for the course were to:

(1) Explain and model recognizable learner-centered teaching methods

(2) Create an awareness regarding safe and supportive learning environment

(3) Improve participants’ teaching skills

(4) Foster personal awareness through reflection on experiences as learners and teachers

(5) Enhance faculty collaboration and interdisciplinary collegiality

(6) Increase faculty professional satisfaction, thereby reducing burnout

(7) Improve faculty educational productivity

The curriculum for this course views learning from an experiential perspective. It assumes that students learn by activities that allow newly acquired skills to be applied through direct and active personal experience in order to reinforce and internalize cognitive learning.

The planned experiences provided in this curriculum revolve in thought-action-reflection cycles. These are likely to encourage participants to bring their interests, psychological needs and previous experiences to active study of the teaching and learning process.

The concept of the teacher-as-learner allows the teacher to directly experience the power of directing his/her own learning in a safe, supportive environment and as a result are likely to promote learner centered instruction.

A ceremony to award certificates to successful participants was organized on 5^th July 2012 at Saleem Aampus. Prof Dr Abdul Majeed, Director QEC was the chief guest. Prof Dr Aamir Ali Chaudhry, Principal UMDC, Prof Dr Akhtar Hussain Bokhari, Principal Dental College, Mr Saleem Akhtar Kayani, Director Press & Publication, Dr Mussarat Ul Husnain, Director DME, PMC and Heads of the Departments attended the ceremony. Dr Tanzeela Khalid expressed her gratitude towards TUF administration; particularly appreciating the efforts of Ms Zahida Maqbool, Additional Registrar and her team. She also thanked the Principal UMDC and the HODs for their support and cooperation. Prof Dr Abdul Majeed appreciated the efforts of DME and highlighted the importance of CPD activities. Later on he awarded certificates to the participants. The participants, in their highly encouraging feedback stated that they not only liked the course but expect that such CPD activities will be carried out on a regular basis.

DME, UMDC wishes to conduct this course on a regular basis to improve the quality standards of teaching and learning at The University of Faisalabad.