Faculty have a unique opportunity to support student well-being in both classroom and clinical settings. This can include using clear and flexible teaching approaches, offering regular check-ins to help students reflect on their personal and academic experiences, and creating a welcoming learning environment. These strategies can help students stay engaged, especially when they are facing… Read More
Multiple choice questions (MCQs) are among the most widely used formats in health sciences education due to their efficiency in assessing broad content areas, ease of scoring, and suitability for computer-based testing. When well-constructed, MCQs can assess not only factual recall, but also application, analysis, and clinical reasoning. However, poorly written items can mislead students,… Read More
Teaching Philosophies, sometimes called Teaching Statements, are documents that are helpful in informing students of your priorities, applying to teaching positions and reflecting on teaching practices. Teaching Philosophies articulate your central goals as an educator, provide concrete examples of your teaching and share how you evaluate your teaching effectiveness. Teaching Philosophies can vary in length from a… Read More
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an evidence-based educational framework that reduces barriers to learning by centering three main principles: engagement, representation, and action and expression. Engagement refers to ways that faculty can connect with learners by recognizing their needs, demonstrating the relevance of course materials, and creating a welcoming environment. Under the principles of… Read More
Team-based learning (TBL) is a student-centered instructional strategy that utilizes a flipped classroom model allowing students the opportunity to work in groups to solve authentic problems. TBL is a collaborative, active learning strategy that can be utilized in both large and small classrooms, and “supports the development of high-performance learning teams and provides opportunities for… Read More
When local, community, or global events impact our classrooms, it can be challenging to maintain focus on teaching and learning. Teaching may feel mundane or even irrelevant in the face of tragedy, violence, or disaster. Faculty and students alike may be personally affected, especially when their identities or communities are targeted or harmed. Faculty should… Read More
Prior to the start of a clinical rotation or experience, faculty should discuss their expectations of learner performance with their learners. Topics to discuss should include goals and objectives/outcomes, teaching strategies, evaluation and feedback techniques, daily schedule, clinical duties, case presentations, writing notes, supervision hierarchy, modes of communication, and other pertinent policies. One Minute Preceptor… Read More
Course syllabi provide students and faculty with a road map for successfully navigating a course including details about content, requirements, assignments, assessments, policies, resources, schedule, expectations, and responsibilities. In addition, syllabi act as an agreement (invitation) between the faculty and students about how the course will function including promises of what students will learn during… Read More
Planning, preparation, and sleep are vital to the success of students at UTHSC. This section includes advice and techniques that prepare students for academic success. Last Reviewed:June 8, 2026 First Published:January 20, 2023 Use the comments section below to let us know your thoughtsabout student success. Take it on the go! Listen to an… Read More
Student engagement refers to the degree of attention, curiosity, interest, and investment students show toward learning. In the health sciences, engagement is a key contributor to meaningful learning, clinical preparedness, and professional identity formation. Research shows that when learners are engaged, they are more likely to persist in rigorous programs, develop clinical reasoning skills, and… Read More
