MS4 Catalog

Medical Students as Educators - Virtual

LOCATION: Online
PRECEPTOR: Anna Lama, Ed.D.
DURATION: 4 weeks 
OFFERED: Intermittently 
MAXIMUM ENROLLMENT: 21
STATUS: Elective - WVU students only
NOTES: If you have completed the same clinical rotation you can not take the Online rotation. 

OBJECTIVES:

Brief Description: The Medical Students as Educators (MSaE) Online elective is a 4-week online teaching practicum for 4th year medical students (all campuses) interested in teaching and learning in academic medicine. Students in this rotation will complete course work on SOLE, accumulate classroom observation hours, meet on zoom conference calls with the director and other MSaE students, plan and execute a final project related to curriculum development. The aim of this rotation is to equip students with the knowledge to develop basic teaching and assessment skills necessary and useful in any residency discipline. 

Specifically, this rotation is designed to provide structure and guidance to students as they develop the foundation and framework for high-quality teaching. 

Overall Learning Objectives. At the conclusion of the elective, students will be able to do the following:

Medical Knowledge

  • Demonstrate knowledge of established and evolving biomedical, clinical, epidemiological, and social-behavioral sciences from medical school curriculum and apply this knowledge to a specific and detailed lesson plan (MK1-8).
  • Learn how to gather information appropriate and germane to the lesson content, organize, prepare and deliver a final teaching product that aligns with specific teaching field placement requirements (MK1-8)

Problem Based Learning & Instruction 

  • Engage in literature review, teaching observations, reflections and discussion that are necessary for lifelong learning as teachers. PBL&I1-2
  • Planned elective module topics may include approaches to teaching, teaching methods, learning styles, assessment and feedback principles, planning and organizing a lecture or learning activity, developing content, etc. PBL&I4-5

Professionalism

  • Demonstrate appropriate dress, responsibility, timeliness, punctuality for all assignments, communication with course director and observations (PROF 5)

Interpersonal & Communication Skills 

  • Demonstrate effective communication and collaboration with course directors, physicians, and other students in the interdisciplinary setting of a classroom, small group, or other educational learning experience. (I&CS4)
  • Organize, prepare, and deliver a large group teaching presentation in multiple iterations.(I&CS4)

Note: MSaE Online Module Specific Learning Objectives will be provided in the elective syllabus.

Methods to Achieve objectives

Students will be required to meet objectives in the MSaE elective through four (4) tasks over 4-weeks:

  1. Complete weekly learning module readings & mini-reflections posted in SOLE that are germane to the topic of education, teaching and learning, and assessment;
  2. Attend all bi-weekly group zoom sessions and present a 10-minute mini-teaching session;
  3. Observe a set amount of classroom teaching and curriculum development observations (virtual and in-person) and document their experience from the prospective of an educator;
  4. Develop and present a final teaching project and submit a reflection on the experience (1 hour of teaching);

Note: A weekly schedule of elective readings and assignments with due dates will be provided for pacing

Examination procedures and evaluation criteria

The MSaE Online elective is a “Pass/Fail” elective. Students must successfully complete all four objectives within the syllabus to pass the elective. Students will receive weekly module feedback on SOLE module assignments. Classroom observations are tailored to each student and faculty member schedule (as needed).The MSaE director (Dr. Lama) must observe the final project presentation and submit a teaching rubric as summative assessment. Students will submit all materials in the course and syllabus (i.e., reading reflections, journal observations, and final lesson plans) to Dr. Lama for review, and a pass/fail grade for successful completion of the rotation.

A note on field experience opportunities.

The MSaE Online elective does not require the learner to participate in teaching field placements (e.g., bedside teaching, problem-based learning facilitation, SIM facilitation). However, a student who has completed and passed the MSaE online elective has the option to co-facilitate a Problem-Based Learning 1 ( PBL1) Case with an experience facilitator and MS1 students. This is optional. The Small Group Teaching placement will require students to travel to the Morgantown campus to teach in PBL 1. The School of Medicine does not cover the cost of gas for students in any fourth-year rotation. Free housing may be provided based on availability. There will not be exceptions made with regards to modifying in-person teaching to virtual.

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. Additions to the rotation after June 1 will be based on rotation availability.