CHALLENGES TO MEDICAL TEACHERS?

1. CHALLENGES TO MEDICAL TEACHERS?
Dr.T.V.Rao MD
Teaching in the modern world is more complex than in the past, Many teachers under illusion that
reading a Text in LCD or OHP sheet completes the matters, it is all said by the students that the slides
are very interesting but the teacher is very poor, We have no proper system to analyse what is right
to the students and teacher in changing world of expectations. If the Teachers do not realise the
truth about the self they soon become life less objects talking many things, however I find teaching
continues to be more complex that we imagine with an ignorant mind, as it proves we read many
times a same topics for many decades after a long time we realise about the wisdom of the teaching
and make the students to understand. My initial reaction would understandably have been to
question the students. It has to be them! Doesn’t it? As years have gone on and I have become more
experienced, I have also become more reflective and critical of my own practice. Digging into various
books and blog post and most like, continues to be writing on WIKIPEDIA have made me realise that
actually the root cause of this problem is not as distant as I had thought. Practically it has become
information age it means that people well informed and poorly knowledged, as I say lesser common
sense What if it wasn't simply the students but how I present information that creates such
confusion? If it is, then that’s something within my own control and easy for me to tweak and
change. Day by day we are all loading information from morning 8 AM to 4 PM it only means that we
have done our duty, what does this mean for the classroom? Well think back to those moments of
confusion and zombie like states. How many of those times were created by us overloading students
working memory? How many times did we make things a little too complex which caused them to
get stuck? How many of those times did we set tasks that asked a bit too much too soon? Is there
anything we can practically tweak to make the complex simple? As Daniel T Willingham said, it’s not
about making the task easier, it’s about making the thinking around it easier. All students will
ultimately have to sit the same exam with the same difficult questions. Making the content simpler
will only hinder them in this situation. Instead, can we make getting to the desired outcome a more
broken down and scaffolded process? There are few students who are not connected with this world
and continue to do so in spite of many inputs and advices, as some students need no excuses to get
distracted. Students’ brains and specifically their working memory can easily focus on the wrong
things. The amazing, confusing title on your presentation can actually lead them to think about that
rather than listen to what you are saying. So what about humor? Humour is fine in the classroom but
beware that if during an explanation of a complex topic, a joke can actually distract the students’
attention. Their working memory focuses on that and not the topic and successful learning is lost.
Look at it through the students eyes. We probably won’t find this advice in many educational books,
but I feel it is vital. Once you have finished planning your lesson, go back through the stages one at a
time. Lessons must be challenging for long term learning to take place, but quickly evaluate and
identify anything which may be too complex. If you were a student would you get it? If it is too
difficult, remember and make the thinking around it easier, not the task. The teachers should make
the students familiar with academic language and some teachers find interesting to speak in local
language sooner or later people think that you are ignorant of the medium of instruction, It is OK in
the First year MBBS as also many complain they are treated as grown up kids, and they are scared of
every one, and suddenly change as they enter clinical side or bed side medicine, a bigger world
awaits them when come to Clinical side and certainly students awaken in the 2nd MBBS as they see
more competent teachers in and around Hospital, We teachers must never forget Introducing
academic language – Through the introduction of carefully selected articles or high quality texts,
students can begin to be exposed to an improved level of language. As a teacher, it is important to

2. use these to pull out key vocabulary and explain the meaning and context in which they are being
used. Never forget the students should learn something of every complex topics Do it yourself –
Complete the task yourself and explain the process you took. Remember, this is done to inspire and
not simply replicate. We want students to think for themselves and produce something unique. if
the Teachers do not find the better ways of teaching they will little place to live in the system with
respect and dignity whatever the students behave with senior teachers is just artificial to cross the
examinations ?
THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF MEDICAL EDUCATION IS LOADED WITH MANY LACUNAE HOWEVER IT IS
GOING TO PRODUCE DOCTORS WHO CAN NEVER PRACTICE THE PROFESSION THEY HAVE CHOSEN
IT SIMPLY MEANS A LOSS TO THE NATION I WISH TEACHER HAVE STILL A ROLE TO CHANGE THE
SYSTEM?
I WISH MANY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM FRIENDS
Dr.T.V.Rao MD Professor of Microbiology Freelance writer