Clinical Teaching

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Assessing the Effectiveness of a Learning Plan

Characteristics of Effective Clinical Teachers

Providing Constructive Feedback

Questions to Ask About a Precepting Assignment

Assessing the Effectiveness of a Learning Plan


A Self-Checklist

Learning goals: Are the goals:
clearly stated?
appropriate and realistic for the learner's experience and stage of development?
doable in our setting with our resources?
comprehensive (i.e., include goals from the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains)?
worthwhile (are they relevant; do they include complex, difficulty-to-describe outcomes)?
regarded as evolving and modifiable?

Learning strategies: Will the
learning strategies support and be consistent with the learning goals?
learner have adequate opportunities to watch me &/or others demonstrate any needed complex skills?
learner have adequate opportunities for systematically practicing what she or he needs to learn?
learner be making full use of available resources?
learner have sufficient time for both input and reflection?

Strategies for monitoring the learner's progress: Are there provisions for
gathering information about the learner's relevant entry-level capabilities?
me to routinely observe the learner's performance?
videotaping the learner's performance (e.g., some of his or her interactions with patients/clients)?
gathering information from others who are in a position to provide helpful feedback
(e.g., other teachers, peers, patients)?
quickly giving the learner information gathered from others?
adequate opportunities for the learner to critique his or her performance and progress?
adequate opportunities for me to give feedback to the learner?
the learner and me to have frequent supervisory sessions?

Other: Are
the learner's roles and responsibilities clearly spelled out?
my roles and responsibilities clearly spelled out?
the ground rules for the ways the learner and I will work together spelled out, if appropriate?

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Providing Constructive Feedback

A Self-Checklist

KEY: A = Always F = Frequently O = Occasionally N = Never

For each item, circle the letter that applies.

To what extent do I...

A F O N 1. establish and maintain a climate of trust in which learners welcome and invite feedback?

A F O N 2. arrange the proper setting for providing feedback?

A F O N 3. begin by inviting the learner's self-assessment?

A F O N 4. ensure that learners identify both what they did well as well as areas needing further work?

A F O N 5. ensure that my feedback is timely?

A F O N 6. link my feedback to each learner's goals?

A F O N 7. link my feedback to my actual observation of learners?

A F O N 8. check out any hypotheses I generate about each learner's performance?

A F O N 9. present feedback in nonjudgmental language, being as specific as possible?

A F O N 10. present learners with objective evidence whenever possible?

A F O N 11. focus on each learner's behavior and performance, not judgments about them as people?

A F O N 12. label my feedback as subjective, when it is?

A F O N 13. avoid overloading learners with feedback?

A F O N 14. recognize that learners have varying levels of receptivity to feedback?

A F O N 15. convey support when providing feedback?

A F O N 16. avoid premature feedback?

A F O N 17. help learners turn negative feedback into constructive challenges?

A F O N 18. encourage learners to invite feedback; to let me know when it is difficult to hear my feedback?

A F O N 19. provide follow-up to my feedback, whenever appropriate?

Comments and examples:
Adapted from:

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Characteristics of Effective Clinical Teachers


A Self-Checklist

Key: A = Always F = Frequently O = Occasionally N = Never

For each item, circle the letter that applies.

To what extent
...

A F O N 1. do I have the ability to handle - even to thrive in - the "messy" world of clinical teaching?

A F O N 2. do I enjoy and respect people?

A F O N 3. am I interested in and committed to being helpful to patients, students, and residents?

A F O N 4. do I have the capacity to work collaboratively with others?

A F O N 5. am I sensitive to the subtleties of human functioning involved in patient care and teaching?

A F O N 6. am I enthusiastic about my subject?

A F O N 7. am I enthusiastic about teaching?

A F O N 8. do I enjoy - and am good at - learning?

A F O N 9. am I able to convey my enthusiasm for teaching, learning, and my subject?

A F O N 10. am I reflective about what I do as a clinician and teacher?

A F O N 11. am I willing to admit my limitations?

A F O N 12. am I open to challenges to the way I do things?

A F O N 13. am I adaptable?

A F O N 14. am I willing to make needed changes?

A F O N 15. am I able to deal constructively with ambiguity and uncertainty?

A F O N 16. is what I say congruent with what I do (do I practice what I preach)?

Comments and Examples:





Name: _________________________________________ Date: ___________________

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Questions to Ask About a Precepting Assignment

A Self-Checklist

What are the characteristics of the learner (e.g., background, special interests)?
What does the school/program expect the learner to do during the CLE*?
Does the learner have learning goals - and if so, what are they?
Does the learner have a learning plan - and if so, what is it?
What are the learner's current skills that are relevant for this CLE?
How is the school/program preparing the learner for the CLE?
What am I expected to do before, during, and after the CLE?
How will this CLE fit into the learner's overall curriculum?
What provisions can be made so I can observe the learner in action and hold regularly supervisory sessions?
How will I interact with the faculty from the learner's program/school
(e.g., Will a faculty member visit me during the CLE?) ?
What kinds of support will I be given in preparing for and carrying out my teaching responsibilities?
(e.g., a preceptor workshop)?
What are the mechanisms for evaluating my teaching and providing me with helpful feedback?
___________________________________________________________________________?
___________________________________________________________________________?
___________________________________________________________________________?

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* CLE = Clinical Learning Experience (e.g., clerkship, rotation, preceptorship, practicum)

Adapted from:
Westberg, J., Jason, H. Collaborative Clinical Education: The Foundation of Effective Health Care, New York: Springer Publishing, 1993.

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