Teaching of pathology using technology enhanced cognitive scaffolding (TECS): concept for a new education model

Successful Clinical Learning involves understanding of Pathology concepts as foundation. Teaching pathology is resource intensive requiring continuous staff interaction in teaching theory, gross and microscopic pathology. This involves intense academic support not easily available in present medical schools challenged by increasing student numbers. \ud \ud Over the years, there has been significant reduction in the number of academic and support staff in Pathology departments and many medical schools have reduced or replaced pathology teaching with clinical teaching primarily due to resource constraints. \ud \ud Over the years, I have tried several educational tools to improve pathology teaching. In this presentation and I propose a new combined teaching model for pathology using minimal staff input yet maintaining quality of teaching, continuous assessment, student interactivity and support. I call this “Technology Enhanced Cognitive Scaffolding (TECS)” a innovative concept for teaching pathology. \ud \ud Advantages of the new model:\ud \ud 1. Teaching of Pathology including theory, practicals including gross specimen and Microscopy teaching.\ud 2. Maintaining student interactivity, attention and motivation.\ud 3. Continuous assessment with feedback.\ud 4. Continuous monitoring of student progress.\ud 5. Identification of students in need and opportunity to support.\ud 6. Adoptable to large class of students.\ud 7. Adoptable to distance education in Pathology.\ud \ud In short, this presentation will demonstrate significant improvement in teaching, assessment and motivation in teaching of pathology or other bioscience subject to large class is possible even by a “single” staff..