Teaching in medicine: an elective course for third-year students

An elective course titled 'Teaching in Medicine' was given to eight third-year medical students in response to the policy of the University of British Columbia medical school to expand its elective offerings. Course objectives focused on the skills that doctors need to fulfil their role of teacher of patients, students or colleagues. Instructional methods included directed reading, group discussions, microteaching, evaluation of videotaped samples of teacher behaviour, role play, demonstration and practice in developing and using audiovisual materials, and analysis of research in teaching and learning in medicine. The course culminated in each student presenting a major teaching session which was videotaped and assessed by the student and course teachers. All students rated the course as excellent. This paper describes the course and the teacher and student perceptions of it. The experience of this medical school is that a course of this nature is extremely worthwhile.