Previous Teaching Awards
Tessa Ho holds the following awards jointly with Dr Nick Hawkins, School of Medical Sciences
1. The Foundations for Learning Pilot Week ($15,050) over Session 1 2003
The New Medical Curriculum (NMC) at UNSW is based on the attainment of students of key graduate attributes. While some of these attributes reflect the acquisition and application of knowledge, many others focus on the development of personal and professional capacities that have to some extent fallen outside the explicit scope of the traditional medical education model.
In introducing the NMP, it is recognised that for students to attain these attributes, there must necessarily be a move to a more student-centred approach to learning. Indeed, this is a stated characteristic of the new program, and it is reflected in the lessening of content within the curriculum, and the increase in time given to small group and self-directed learning.
It is inevitable that a change away from a teacher-centred approach to education will cause uncertainty amongst staff well used to practicing this established teaching style. It is also inevitable that new strategies and resources need to be developed to assist staff in adapting to the new student-centred environment.
We propose to undertake a short study in the context of the Foundations for Learning Block of the NMP, that has the following specific aims;
1. Identify the issues arising for staff in moving from a staff centred to a student centred curriculum
2. Identify and/or develop strategies and resources that will enable staff to reconcile their current conceptions of teaching with those demanded by the new medical program.
2. BIOS Online Library Skills Project ($11,000) over Session 1 2003
Co-applicants are Suzanne Mobbs and Southnary Praseuksouk
The Foundations Block will contain a substantial information skills component, which aims to address the graduate capability of Self Directed Learning and Critical Evaluation particularly Finding, Evaluating and Synthesising Evidence.The First Year Experience Grant will be used to develop an online component called Foundations for Learning: Information Skills to support both the face-to-face teaching in the Foundations Block as well as a basis for ongoing support through the other Phase 1 blocks of the Medicine program. In keeping with the teaching style adopted in the new program, the Information Literacy sessions will involve small group learning and will be delivered using an active, student centred approach. The online component will be modular so that students can access sections of the tutorial when required and will enable the addition of more advanced modules to support information literacy for use throughout the Medicine program.
We plan to trial one of the face-to-face Information Skills sessions and the online tutorial with first year Medical Students enrolled in MFAC1011: Introductory Clinical and Behavioural Skills (ICBS), a compulsory Medicine 1 subject in the current curriculum with an enrolment of approximately 220 students. This course has not previously included any Information Skills sessions, although the students are required to find information relevant for their 2 assignments. A trial with the current first year students would allow us to evaluate the online component and also the teaching style proposed for the Foundations Block sessions and provide the students with basic skills to more effectively locate material for their assignments.
The First Year Teaching Experience Awards are available every session.
Details are provided on the following Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) Website.