What's the Point of Weds Tutorials?
The main purpose of Weds tutorials is to cover parts of the GP curriculum (and thus help trainees with the AKT and possibly parts of CSA). The other purpose is to provide formalised structured teaching on important or common areas in general practice which are either not covered in GP placements or where the coverage is variable; for instance, evidence based general practice medicine or the organisational and political influences on the practice of primary care medicine. |
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What Approach Do You Suggest for Weds Tutorials?
We hope that trainers will be able to deliver these tutorials in a way that embraces some of the following points:
- Knowledge is imparted in constructivist way: that is, building on what they already know rather than just 'vomiting' information all over them. To be able to do this, one needs to figure out the trainees' starting point. [Vico (1700s), Dewey (1938), Piaget (1950) and Vygotsky (1978)]
- The focus is on the application (to real cases for instance), analysis or evaluation of knowledge rather than a a regurgitation of facts, figures, guidelines or what is written in books [Bloom's Taxonomy of Learning Objectives (1956)]
- Use the trainees' experience: encouraging trainees to bring their experience and reflect on it [Kolb's Learning Cycle (1984)]
- Learning with ideas, feelings, actions (Bloom's Taxonomy): encouraging trainees, where possible, to reflect in all three areas of knowledge, skills and attitudes [Bloom's Taxonomy of Learning Objectives (1956)]
- encouraging a collaborative approach to learning (where trainees learn from each other, as well as from you) [principles of Constructivism]
- Tying in the evidence where appropriate and how this evidence may be applied in practice [Evidence Based Medicine, Eddy (1990)]
- Promoting Self-Concept: to help trainees identify other resources to further deepen their knowledge, skills and/or attitudes and thus help with their daily practise aswell as the AKT and CSA. ['self-concept', Knowles (1984)]
Who are Weds Tutorials For? They are for GP trainees who are currently in a GP post. |
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Do You Have Any Material that Might Help Me With Formulating My Educational Strategy for Delivering Weds Tutorials?
Of course I do. Take a look at some of these (also available from the downloads box at the top of this page).
- How to add sparkle to Weds Tutorials - powerpoint with slide notes
- Some Educational Pearls to Help You with Weds Tutorials
- Tutorials - the good, the bad and the ugly
- Delivering group tutorials
- Developing aims and objectives for tutorials
Closing Note
Remember, group members and trainers need to take particular care to ensure all members have the opportunity to contribute. We hope the group will create a safe space in which difficult or uncomfortable issues can be discussed in confidence. It is always okay for the group to decide to change the agenda and deal with a more pressing aspect of the topic under discussion.