Essential Skills in Health Professions Education is a short, self-directed course that is designed to introduce new educators to key learning and teaching approaches in the RCSI context. The course includes mini-modules on large group teaching, small group teaching, bedside teaching, simulation-based learning, and Universal Design for Learning. Each mini module includes video content, curated reading lists and interactive activities.
The course serves as a taster to the following courses which the learner can choose to pursue for further development:
Three-day RCSI CPD Certificate in Teaching and Assessing in Clinical Practice (18 CPD credits)
Postgraduate Diploma in Health Professions Education (NFQ Level 9) which is offered through RCSI’s Health Professions Education Centre.
Learning outcomes
LO1. Large group teaching
Discuss the evidence base underlying the use of large group teaching
Recognise the potential advantages and disadvantages of large group teaching
Identify active learning strategies that you can use in your large group teaching
LO2. Small group teaching
Describe what is meant by small group teaching (SGT) and the different types that exist
Critically analyse how educational theory relates to SGT
Identify the benefits of SGT in health professions education
LO3. Bedside teaching
Discuss how to plan for bedside teaching
Describe evidence-based clinical teaching methods
Describe how to give feedback in the clinical setting
LO4. Simulation-based learning
Describe the different type of simulation teaching methods that are available at RCSI
Discuss evidence-based approaches to simulation teaching
Explain the key skills involved in pre-briefing, running a simulation and de-briefing
LO5. Universal design for learning
Identify the core principles of UDL
Analyse your own teaching with respect to UDL principles
Offer examples of practical ways of incorporating UDL into your teaching
