MS4 Catalog

Medical Students as Educators (MSaE)

Title of Elective: Medical Students as Educators (MSaE) Longitudinal
Preceptor(s): Anna Lama, Ed.D.
Location: West Virginia University Health Sciences Center
Duration of Elective: 9 months** (4 credit hours)
Offered: By arrangement with preceptor
Max Number of Students: 20 

Objectives

Brief Description:

The Medical Students as Educators (MSaE) Longitudinal Elective is designed for fourth-year medical students who are interested in developing teaching skills for academic medicine and clinical education. Students participate in a longitudinal teaching practicum that combines structure coursework, observation of experienced educators, and supervised teaching experiences across the medical school curriculum.

During the elective, student teachers will:

  • Complete asynchronous coursework and reflections through SOLE
  • Participate in monthly virtual workshops that include teaching skill development and mini-teaching exercises
  • Observe teaching sessions across the medical school curriculum
  • Facilitate small group or simulation-based learning
  • Practice clinical bedside teaching
  • Design and implement a capstone teaching project

The MSaE elective provides structure and mentorship as students develop foundational skills in teaching, communication, feedback, and professional identity as a medical educator.

While the elective is rigorous, it is also designed to be engaging and fun as you explore your identity as a future physician educator.

**The longitudinal rotation is 4 credit hours spread out over 8 months to accommodate a spiral curriculum model, including a capstone project and teaching practicum experiences. 

By the end of this elective, students will be able to:

  • Apply biomedical, clinical, epidemiological, and social-behavioral knowledge from the medical school curriculum to design effective teaching sessions and lesson plans. (Medical Knowledge 1-Medical Knowledge 8)
  • Develop and deliver structured teaching sessions that align learning objectives, instructional methods, and assessment strategies. (Medical Knowledge 1-Medical Knowledge 8)
  • Critically evaluate medical education literature and apply evidence-based teaching practices to educational activities. (Problem-Based Learning & Instruction 1-2, 4, Interpersonal & Communication Skills 1)
  • Analyze educational strategies across the medical education continuum, including teaching methods, assessment strategies, and feedback techniques. Problem-Based Learning & Instruction 4- Problem-Based Learning & Instruction 5)
  • Demonstrate professionalism, including punctuality, reliability, respect to peers and educators, and appropriate professional conduct in educational settings. (Professionalism 6)
  • Communicate effectively with faculty, learners, and interdisciplinary teams in classroom, simulation, and clinical teaching environments. (Interpersonal & Communication Skills 5; Professionalism 7)
  • Design and implement a capstone educational project that addresses a teaching or assessment need within the WVU School of Medicine learning environment. (Interpersonal & Communication Skills 5)
  • Reflect on professional development as a student teacher and articulate future goals related to teaching and academic medicine.

Methods to achieve objectives

Students will be required to meet objectives in the MSaE elective through six (6) tasks over the course of an academic year:

  1. Complete learning modules and assignments in SOLE related to education, teaching and learning, and assessment.
  2. Attend all monthly workshops and deliver 10-minute "mini-teaching" presentations using either the 'Chalk Talk' or "Ignite" or "Oral Case Presentation" format. 
  3. Complete a 2-day summer teaching internship (non-paid) in the Emergency Department.
  4. Complete a required number of classroom teaching observations (virtual and in-person) and document insights from the perspective of an educator.
  5. Complete two (2) teaching field experiences totaling 20 hours of teaching activity. Available placements include Bedside Teaching Preceptorship, Large Group Teaching (pre-clinical classroom, clinical classroom), Small Group Facilitation, Virtual Interprofessional Education Facilitation, Simulation Teaching (in STEPS).
  6. Complete a capstone project (i.e., Teaching Innovation Capstone, Educational Research Capstone) that demonstrates sustained engagement in medical education, and submit a reflection on the experience (3 hrs);

Examination procedures and evaluation criteria

This elective is graded on a Pass/Fail basis. To receive a Pass, students must:

  • Complete all required assignments
  • Participate in required teaching sessions
  • Fulfill observation and teaching hour requirements
  • Complete the capstone project
  • Maintain professional conduct throughout the course

Failure to complete required components may result in remediation or a grade of Fail, at the discretion of the elective director.

Students will receive weekly formative feedback on SOLE module assignments, teaching activities and reflective teaching journals; and summative assessment of the capstone project and the overall elective final grade and narrative. 

A note on Professional Expectations:

The Medical Students as Educators (MSaE) Longitudinal Elective is designed to be a rigorous and meaningful professional development experience. Because the course is longitudinal and often integrated with students' clinical schedules, the instructor provides reasonable flexibility in completing elective requirements throughout the 8 months. Students are expected to maintain professional responsibility by meeting elective deadlines, fulfilling teaching commitments, and communicating proactively with the course director if challenges arise. Failure to complete academic or professional responsibilities in a timely manner, without prior communication, may result in the development of a personal improvement plan and, if necessary, removal from the MSaE elective.

A note on Travel: 

Some teaching requirements may require you to travel. The WVU School of Medicine does not cover the cost of gas or other travel expenses for students in any fourth-year elective. Free housing may be provided based on availability. There will not be exceptions made with regards to modifying in-person teaching to virtual teaching. Any conflicts with this point will result in immediate removal from the elective. 

Pre-Rotation Instructions: 

The MSaE Elective requires pre-approval commitment through Ms. Christina Politte and Dr. Lama. Any student interested in scheduling this rotation will need to contact Dr. Lama (alama@hsc.wvu.edu) before May 1 of the academic year for more information.