The Flipped Classroom Approach in a Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship Curriculum

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Anesthesiology
• Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for online learning and increased demand for medical professionals.
• The pediatric anesthesiology fellowship curriculum shifted from traditional lectures to a flipped classroom model.
• This transition aimed to optimize education and support learner well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a flipped classroom curriculum in pediatric anesthesiology.
• To assess the impact on educational outcomes, learner well-being, and career development.
• To compare the flipped classroom approach with traditional lecture-based learning.

Main Methods:

• A novel curriculum was developed based on American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) and Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) content outlines.
• Fellows (2017-2021) completed a voluntary survey evaluating the flipped classroom structure.
• Survey data included perceptions of educational impact, wellness, and career development.

Main Results:

• Fellows preferred the flipped classroom approach (72.2%) over traditional lectures (27%).
• Custom-made prework materials were preferred over traditional textbooks and articles.
• Participants reported improved participation rates, educational benefits, and more time for personal/scholarly activities.

Conclusions:

• The flipped classroom structure was perceived positively by pediatric anesthesiology fellows.
• Benefits included increased educational engagement, reduced academic burden, and improved wellness.
• Further research is needed to correlate the curriculum with objective educational outcomes.