Active-learning approaches have been shown to improve pupil understanding and long-term retention of concepts and information compared with the traditional passive-learning lecture model. The educational elements of pathology residency training that are believed to be most effective are those that use active learning. These include discussions between residents and attending pathologists regarding cases seen on service, as well as case-based conferences. These examples focus on teaching residents how to do something (ie, the practice of pathology).Research suggests that learning a practical skill is a process different from learning factual information, both of which are crucial for a trainee's education. While active-learning approaches are generally used in teaching the former, passive-learning approaches dominate the latter. The following intervention can be implemented to use an evidence-based, active-learning approach in an educational format traditionally dominated by standard lectures: (1) A summative outline is created by upper-level residents and distributed to lecture pupils for preconference review. (2) Lecture material is broken into multiple 10-to 15-minute segments. (3) Following each segment of lecture, residents work in preassigned small groups (mixing upper-and lower-level residents) spending 2 to 3 minutes answering previously prepared questions that require use of the salient information. (4) Answers to questions are given with a brief discussion, if warranted, followed by review of the next lecture segment and associated discussion. (5) The lecturer must be an expert regarding the lecture material. Intervention evaluation should be measured using an outcome-based approach with academic performance being the best measure of student learning. If implemented in a regimented manner throughout the year and across specialties, the Resident In-Service Examination may work well. Active-learning enhances pupil understanding and longterm retention of concepts and information. Its implementation in what has traditionally been a passive-lecture format may significantly improve resident learning.
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