BEST Module 6: Teaching Procedures

Bringing Education & Service Together (BEST) is an interdisciplinary service learning project for resident physicians.

By the end of this module, participants will be able to:

Learners must go through three phases of psychomotor skills development:

Learners first need to understand the “why” components of the procedure:

Since learners prefer active learning, teach through questioning:

Then address the “how” components

Ask learner to verbalize the steps.

Ask for questions.

Next, learners need to practice.

Have learner demonstrate procedure for you, explaining each step out loud.
Provide guidance for each step, both verbally and physically.
Evaluate learner’s proficiency: what did learner do right, wrong?
Ask learner to self-evaluate, then give specific feedback, starting with the positive aspects of the performance.
Does the learner have any questions, now that s/he has practiced the skills?
Rapid cycle deliberate practice is an effective technique of having learners cycle rapidly between deliberate practice and directed feedback.
Dividing the procedure up into segments can make it easier to practice and learn.
Between segments, pause, debrief, rewind, have the learner try again.

Finally, learners begin achieving proficiency and are ready for independent performance.

Observe performance again, this time with minimal interruption.
You can now teach the fine points.
Encourage self-directed learning: What are the learner’s future learning goals, and how does s/he want to achieve them? What have you read or done that helped you learn?
Arrange for a follow-up session.

School of Medicine Resident Teaching Skills