Low Tech, Low Stress Strategies to Promote Active Learning UAB Reynolds Program Caroline Harada, MD Kellie Flood, MD Angela Rothrock, PhD October 25, 2010

Teaching opportunities often don’t come at ideal times The residency program director just asked you to to teach noon conference 2 weeks from now. You are on service all month, and have a sick child at home, but opportunities to teach geriatrics to the whole residency program don’t come along that often…

You are precepting a resident in clinic. Your first patient has just called to say she’s running 30 min late. You would like to teach the resident something during this down time, but you haven’t planned anything specific… Teaching opportunities often don’t come with much notice

You can’t miss those opportunities Every time you get a teaching opportunity, you want it to count How can you create high quality learning experiences with limited resources? Guerilla Geriatrics

Learning Theory Behaviorist theory: Learning is done TO the learner – Filling an empty vessel Constructivist theory: Learning is done BY the learner – Learner Centered Learning How People Learn. National Research Council, 1999

Learner Centered Learning New knowledge is constructed from prior knowledge – You must activate prior knowledge in order to build upon it Learners must be actively engaged – You must revise your thinking to fit in the new information, try out new ideas by applying them to real life, and so on Metacognition is encouraged – Know what you know How People Learn. National Research Council, 1999

Kolb’s model for experiential learning – 2 dimensions: Perception (grasping) Processing (transformation) Multiple Learning Styles Concrete Experience Conceptualization Active Experimentation Reflective Observation

1. Activate prior knowledge 2. Add new knowledge 3. Try out new knowledge 4. Use new knowledge Armstrong’s Curriculum Planning Framework Concrete Experience Conceptualization Active Experimentation Reflective Observation Armstrong E, Parsa-Parsi R. Academic Medicine, July 2005

You need to have multiple techniques up your sleeve – Multiple learning styles – Maintain interest – Reinforce knowledge in new ways

High Tech Web-GEMs (Univ of Alabama Birmingham) GeriaSims (Univ of Iowa) Simulation Centers Audience Response Systems

High Stress (or at least, resource intensive) Simulations Senior Mentor Programs Problem Based Learning

Educational methods must be feasible Limited resources – Time – Technology – Money – Space – Faculty

1. Activate prior knowledge 2. Add new knowledge 3. Try out new knowledge 4. Use new knowledge Armstrong’s Curriculum Planning Framework Concrete Experience Conceptualization Active Experimentation Reflective Observation Armstrong E, Parsa-Parsi R. Academic Medicine, July 2005

1. Work Audits (3) 2. Academic Detailing 3. Concept Mapping (1) Three Strategies from UAB Concrete Experience Conceptualization Active Experimentation Reflective Observation Armstrong E, Parsa-Parsi R. Academic Medicine, July 2005

Other LT, LS Instructional Strategies