HELP !!! Need new ideas for Pharmacology Class (Content has doubled ti
I teach in a accelerated program and the content I now have to cover has doubled and the time in which to do it has not changed. They have a quiz every week,I do review before but many of the students are not getting it.
Hi Lisa,
Guided notes will definitely help speed the process up. PowerPoint handouts are especially helpful as well. Outside work may have to be assigned more.
Patricia Scales
I agree with this method. In a class like pharmacology where terms and names are similar, guided notes are extremely helpful and ensure they are active but get the correct information.
Hi Lisa,
We have a pharmacy lab at my college so that students can do a lot of simulation learning.
Patricia Scales
I have the students break up into small groups .I bring syringes and bottles of drugs into the classrooms and have students talk about their drug bottles and dosage calculation, then they draw them up.
Hi Christopher,
You may want to try guided notes and give students as many outside assignments as possible.
Patricia Scales
Hi Tracee_
I have recently been in similar situation in an accelerated program. The more I felt the need to rush, the more the students would seem to "check out." What seemed to work for me was I would make up several (somewhat realistic, somewhat outrageous) medical cases and had the students figure out which medications their patient would need. They were in small groups and I gave them about 20 minutes to complete the assignment. What I found was this lead to them picking up the material faster and we were able to cover more material as discussion spread from the student answers. It is a tough subject to engage the students, and I am always looking for recommendations. Hope this helps!
Hi Julie,
Notes are effective if the student is willing to use them as a learning tool. Whether they are guided notes or handwritten notes, students must put forth the effort to learn the information.
Patricia Scales
I had always heard that giving notes -even guided notes, did not facilitate learning. Has there been some new research on this subject?
Hi Carl,
Also guided notes are a great tool when time is of the essence. The students do not have to write as much, thus taking less time.
Patricia Scales
Hi, Tracee -
I teach Pharmacology at a career college in California, and I have only six weeks in which to cover the material. I definitely can understand your frustration!
Though I feel it is not the best method, using PowerPoint presentations while also providing the students with handouts from the presentation sometimes helps me when I have a lot of material to cover. The handouts are copies of the slides, so I can cover the material a little quicker.
Hope this helps!
Hi Tracee,
Offer tutoring sessions from you and get student tutors to give more flexibility with time. Also try using guided notes and PowerPoint presentations to speed up time in the class room.
Patricia Scales
