Where we've come from, where we might go

Area of Science:

• Health Sciences Education
• Medical Education Research

Background:

• Reviews 50 years of health sciences education research.
• Identifies recurring controversies: assessment types, simulation fidelity, expertise conceptualization, and teaching vs. curriculum impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• Examine the role of these controversies in the context of COVID-19-driven distance learning.
• Highlight the essential role of research in teaching and learning.
• Operationalize research findings into distance learning modules.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of 50 years of health sciences education research.
• Analysis of controversies in assessment, simulation, expertise, and pedagogy.
• Exploration of research methodologies including qualitative and neuropsychological approaches.

Main Results:

• Identified persistent controversies in health sciences education.
• COVID-19 necessitated rapid shifts to distance learning, influenced by these debates.
• Research is crucial for understanding and improving effective teaching in new learning environments.

Conclusions:

• Understanding historical controversies is key to navigating current educational challenges.
• Multifaceted research approaches are needed to define effective teaching.
• Findings can inform the development of evidence-based distance learning modules.