Teacher training and faculty development in medical education

Area of Science:

• Education
• Teacher Training
• Educational Psychology

Background:

• Existing teacher-training programs often lack unique, integrated features.
• Effective teacher development requires addressing both skill acquisition and motivation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe and evaluate a unique teacher-training program at Ben-Gurion University (BGU).
• To highlight the program's distinctive hierarchical structure and motivational focus.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a timewise hierarchical structure for gradual skill acquisition.
• Emphasis on motivational aspects, fostering personal involvement and a sense of belonging.
• Individualized training methods catering to diverse needs and expectations.

Main Results:

• The program's unique combination of features leads to personal growth and institutional development.
• A high proportion of educational leaders emerged from the program.
• Rigorous evaluation confirmed the program's effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• The BGU teacher-training program's innovative approach is effective in developing educators.
• Continuous assessment and formative evaluation are crucial for ongoing reinforcement.
• The program's success suggests its model could be a prerequisite for educational innovation.