Putting theory into practice: a method for generating useful pre-class materials to enhance student engagement

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Curriculum Development

Background:

• Engaging medical students in pre-class preparation is a persistent challenge in integrated and student-centered curricula.
• Inadequate or misaligned pre-class materials lead to diminished student engagement and reduced active participation in class.
• Existing literature discusses the rationale and types of pre-class materials but lacks guidance on their creation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the faculty development gap in generating effective pre-class preparation materials.
• To provide practical guidance for creating resources that enhance learner preparation and engagement.
• To reduce frustration for both faculty and learners associated with suboptimal pre-class materials.

Main Methods:

• The article outlines 12 actionable tips for faculty to generate effective pre-class materials.
• These tips are designed to improve the alignment between pre-class work and in-class activities.
• Focus is on practical strategies for resource creation rather than theoretical underpinnings.

Main Results:

• The proposed 12 tips aim to foster enhanced learner preparation.
• Implementation of these tips is expected to lead to an elevated level of learning.
• The strategies are intended to reduce frustration for both educators and students.

Conclusions:

• Effective pre-class materials are crucial for successful student-centered learning models.
• Providing faculty with concrete 'how-to' guidance is essential for improving pre-class engagement.
• This resource offers a practical solution to a common challenge in medical education.