An individualized course in clinical psychiatry

Although a variety of new teaching strategies and materials are available in education today, medical education has been slow to move away from the traditional lecture format. An individualized course in clinical psychiatry is described, both from a philosophical and operational frame of reference. Features of the course of include programmed instruction, behavioral objectives, criterion-referenced mastery level evaluations, contracting for grades, and utilization of small-group discussions. Attention is directed to the advantages of the new methods as well as to new problems which surfaced.