BSHS Selectives 2023-2024
Selectives Type:  Basic Science

Selective Title
Research in Medical Education (BSHS Credit)		 Course Number
MEDU 4076
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all Year 3 requirements; C Form required prior to enrollment
Responsible Faculty Director:
Karen Szauter, MD
Other Faculty:
Dr. Era Buck. Additional faculty as needed based on topic 		Contact Information
kszauter@utmb.edu erbuck@utmb.edu Coordinator: Kiki Baldwin (kibaldwi@utmb.edu) Back-up Coordinators: Victoria Garcia & Christine Villarreal		 Periods Offered
1-13
including holiday period 8		 Maximum Enrollment
1

Learning Objectives
At the end of the selective the student will have:
(1) learned the process for a systematic review of the literature
(2) performed an extended literature search on a topic related to medical education
(3) reviewed and synthesized the literature
(4) prepared the draft of a paper related to the review

Describe the qualifications background and career goals or interests of students who would benefit from the course:
Students with an interest in academia will find this selective helpful to expose themselves to the body of medical education literature and to learn the processes for a systematic review.
The skills refined during this selective will also be helpful for students as they transition into residency and are required to give presentations. The focus of the selective is for the student to focus on the theory and principles underlying educational methods. This is not intended to be a "topic review" but rather to help the student gain an understanding of how the methods work and what is known about the process.

Description of course activities
The student will meet with the course director and with the reference librarian to ensure that search skills are understood.
The student will conduct a comprehensive review of the literature, focusing on research papers.
Summary and synthesis papers from a set time period will be reviewed.
The student will meet with faculty several times per week to ensure progress and to have questions addressed. The student will also be guided through the writing of the final paper.

Proposed time requirement (%) for the student activities per 40-hour week:
Activity Percent of Activity
Faculty contact time

20
Self-directed study

40
Data collection/analysis

40
Other n/a

0

Method of student evaluation

Check all that apply - complete appropriate section(s) only:
1.  Grading
   
A. Please specify your grading criteria for outstanding performance:
  The course will carry an expectation of completion of a comprehensive search, the review and synthesis of articles, and the draft of a paper.

2.  Written Assignment (Homework, projects, notes, papers, abstracts, etc.)
A. Frequency of written assignment(s)
  Single final paper required, minimum of 10 pages. Other work to be turned in will include search strategies. The search strategy will be reviewed and will count towards 20% of the final grade for the elective. A satisfactory search will be essential to receiving a passing grade for the month.
B. Type of written assignment
  Seminars or tutorials culminating in a research paper.
Basic science research plus documented written report.
Humanities, social sciences, biostatistical or epidemiological research culminating in a scholarly paper or written report.
Clinically-based written reports focusing on a basic science or humanities problem.
Journal club written reports
Grant proposals
Literature review
Oral presentation plus written report.
Other modality with a self-directed, scholarly research component culminating in a written report.
C. Format of written assignment
  Written paper, minimum 10 pages in length.
D. Method of content selection (student-selected, assigned, relate to cases, etc.)
  Review of the literature: topic related to medical education.

3.  Oral Presentation
  A. Frequency / duration of presentation(s)?
    Single final presentation to small group of medical educators.
  B. Type and format of presentation
    Seminar
  D. Assessment - Who assesses the student's presentation performance?
    Self-assessment   Peer assessment   Faculty assessment
  E. Method of content selection
    Student-selected topic   Assigned topic

4.  Professionalism
  What expectations do you have for the student to demonstrate participation in the elective (e.g. small group activities, seminars, thoughtful questions, providing resources, journal club, resident lecture attendance)?

The instructor will discuss principles of appropriate attribution and the referencing of literature with the student. The student is expected to understand and to adhere to the principle that all presented work must be solely the student’s own.
    This is part of the process.

5.  Other Modes of Evaluation
  Please explain below.
    Timely completion of assignments based on an agreed upon timeline.