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
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) is research that investigates effective teaching strategies and how we best learn. Some of the questions SoTL research is well positioned to answer include: What impact did a given strategy have on student learning? How do students perceive a given teaching technique? Are some teaching strategies more effective than… Read More
According to Seifer and Connors (2007), “service learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities” (p. 5). Service-learning activities promote learning via active participation in real-life experiences that enhance students’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Reflection, a… Read More
Problem-based learning (PBL) is a student-centered, active learning strategy where students work in small groups (4-6 members) to solve complex, real-world problems that can have multiple solutions. While similar to case-based and team-based learning in that student groups solve problems, PBL emphasizes the student’s role in identifying learning objectives and knowledge gaps based on the… Read More
Online learning has been described as internet-based course(s) that occur synchronously (real-time) and/or asynchronously (not in real-time). During online courses, students and faculty engage in learning through the use of technology, e.g., Blackboard. Benefits of online learning include convenience (24/7 access), flexibility, student-centered learning, and expansion of the curriculum to global resources. Last ReviewedMarch 27,… Read More
Last Reviewed:September 16, 2025 First Published:May 23, 2022 Theory and Key Theorists How Learning Occurs Key Principles Best Used to Teach Learning Activities Behaviorism Pavlov, Watson, Skinner, Thorndike A change in behavior Observable behavior is learning focus Environment influences learning Reinforcement is key Clinical Skills Procedural Skills Simulation case scenarios Observation of skills Using… Read More
Learning outcomes, frequently interchanged with the term learning objectives, are measurable statements that describe what students should know, be able to do, and value by the end of an educational experience, course, program, etc. Learning outcomes communicate the major components of the educational experience to the students who can then focus their efforts on what… Read More
Class discussions offer many pedagogical benefits, including building community and offering faculty the chance to informally assess student learning. These class discussions can take many forms, including structured, semi-structured, or informal discussion sessions. When planning a class discussion, it is helpful to have a clearly defined goal for the session. In addition to establishing a goal, faculty should consider what preparation students need in advance of a discussion and how… Read More
