Course Syllabus

GMS 7001:  Fundamentals of Biomedical Science Education                                                   9/22/15

Fall 2015, Mondays & Wednesdays, 1:00-2:00 pm, room CG-42                           

Course Director:  Wayne T. McCormack, Ph.D., D6-18B, 273-9042, mccormac@ufl.edu 

Catalog Description:  Overview of educational issues faced by biomedical scientists teaching at the undergraduate, graduate, and/or professional level.  Practical guidelines most relevant for beginning biomedical science educators, e.g. teaching skills & strategies and the underlying theory of learning & teaching.

Course Overview:  Biomedical scientists are trained during graduate school and postdoctoral studies to be researchers.  However, those who pursue academic career tracks are also expected to teach, and are often not well prepared for this faculty assignment.  This elective course provides an overview of educational issues faced by biomedical scientists teaching at the undergraduate, graduate, and/or professional level.  The goal of the course is to familiarize biomedical science graduate students interested in pursuing academic career tracks with techniques that are the most relevant for beginning teachers, e.g. teaching skills & strategies and the underlying theory of learning and teaching.  The course will use a variety of teaching formats modeling teaching behaviors, and will provide practical guidelines for a variety of teaching skills. 

Sample topics for student presentations:

1. Problem-Based Learning or Case-Based Learning
2. Ethics in Teaching - The Teacher's Responsibilities
3. What to Do About Cheating
4. Problem Students (There's Almost Always at Least One!)
5. Learning Through Writing (High Stakes & Low Stakes)
6. Motivating Students To Learn
7. Teaching Culturally Diverse Students
8. Laboratory Instruction
9. Teaching Values: Should We? Can We?
10. Web-based teaching platforms
11. Teaching by Distance Education
12. Application of learning theories or learning styles
13. Teaching Critical Thinking
14. Approaches to Curriculum Planning

You may choose any topic related to teaching and learning that is not already addressed.  First come, first served!  Please get approval for your topic by Monday, September 21^st.

Assessment:

30% Attendance
20% Peer evaluation of your contributions to faculty-led sessions
50% Student presentations (to be assessed by peers & faculty)

Required text: 

“McKeachie’s Teaching Tips - Strategies, Research, and Theory for College and University Teachers” by Marilla D. Svinicki & Wilbert J. McKeachie, 14^th edition, Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2014.