Medical students' perceptions of themselves and residents as teachers

Eighty-three medical students from one class at the University of Vermont College of Medicine were surveyed as to their perceptions of both themselves and residents as teachers. Sixty seven percent of the students felt that residents played a significant role as teachers during the first clinical year. Students estimated that one-third of their knowledge could be attributed to housestaff teaching. A large majority of students wanted to teach students during medical school (80%) and residency (93%). Ninety percent of students surveyed would participate in a workshop to improve teaching skills prior to beginning residency; of this group, forty nine students ranked the importance of components of a teaching skills workshop. The findings suggest that medical students are interested both in learning teaching skills and teaching during medical school and during residency.