How Can Cognitive Load Theory Improve Teaching?
Learning can be exciting, overwhelming, or confusing. When we are exposed to a new concept or skill, our brain has to process a significant amount of information. So, it is crucial to understand, particularly for educators, how different learners experience the overall learning process. Why learning can be difficult in some contexts can be explained […]
Why Patients Need Medical Literacy for Equity
In the past, medicine operated like a one-way street. Doctors and scientists were the experts, and patients were the recipients—expected to listen, follow, and trust without question. But the landscape of health knowledge is shifting. In an age of open-access information, online learning, and patient-led research, medical literacy has become a key tool for equity—empowering […]
Sensemaking in Medical & Health Education Makes So Much Sense
In today’s complex health and medical landscape, facts alone are not enough. Medical professionals, patients, educators, and researchers are constantly surrounded by streams of data, specialized language, and rapidly evolving scientific knowledge. The challenge is not only accessing information but also making sense of it. This is where sensemaking becomes essential. What is Sensemaking? Sensemaking […]
Improving Inclusivity in Medical Learning Environments
There are many psychological, social, and instructional factors that influence inclusivity in medical learning environments. Implementing specific and actionable strategies would support students and improve learning, engagement, and inclusivity. Psychological Two significant psychological factors are 1) deficit thinking and 2) drink-from-the-firehose curriculum and teaching. Deficit thinking shows up as language like “don’t waste a spot” […]
Strength-Based Writing and Feedback for Medical Education
Strength-Based Feedback for Writing Assignments: An Assessment for Educators prioritizes asset/strength-based approaches and feedback. Assessment, whether formative or summative, should not only be of learning, but also for learning. This means that educators have a responsibility to make day-to-day adjustments to teaching based on assessments and provide feedback that moves learners forward (William, 2018). Not […]
Supporting Neurodivergent Students in Medical Education
Neurodivergent students bring unique perspectives and strengths to medical education. Their diversity necessitates a variety of accommodations tailored to individual needs, which may extend beyond the specific strategies discussed in this article. Ensuring an inclusive and supportive environment for neurodivergent students not only benefits them but enriches the learning experience for all. Below are strategies […]
The Case for Change: Concerning Aspects of Deficit-Based Language in Education
Language is a potent force that shapes perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors in all facets of life, including education. In the realm of pedagogy, the choice of language holds particular significance as it can either empower or disempower learners. While deficit-based language has historically been used in educational contexts to identify areas of weakness or need, […]
What is your health education brand?
To market anything you must first define your health education brand. Your brand definition acts as a yardstick for evaluating all marketing materials and communications.
Ensure that students know how to prepare for medical school
It is the responsibility of medical institutions to take measures that ensure that medical students know how to prepare for medical school.
How to Teach Physiology
A foundation of medical education is physiology therefore medical educators must teach it effectively.
