Developing Medical Students as Educators: A Course Applying Teaching and Learning Theory to Question Writing

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Educational Theory
• Health Professions Education

Background:

• Formal students-as-teachers programs are needed for authentic application of educational theory.
• Existing medical education lacks structured opportunities for students to teach and apply pedagogical principles.
• Effective educational models are crucial for developing competent future healthcare professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a course focused on teaching and modeling effective educational theory for medical students.
• To provide students with authentic application opportunities in medical education.
• To integrate student-generated educational content into a platform for first-year medical students.

Main Methods:

• A course was designed to teach and model educational theory.
• Students applied learned theories by creating assessment questions with detailed answer explanations.
• Student-created content was incorporated into an online educational platform.

Main Results:

• Students actively engaged in applying educational theory to practical content creation.
• The course provided a structured environment for students to practice teaching skills.
• The developed online platform served as a repository for peer-generated learning materials.

Conclusions:

• Formal students-as-teachers education with authentic application is feasible and beneficial.
• This approach enhances students' understanding of educational principles and content development.
• Integrating student-generated content into educational platforms offers a scalable model for medical education.