Exploring Self-Directed Learning (SDL) in Health Professions Education: A Needle in a Hay Stack? Or not?
Vernon Curran, MEd, PhD
Visiting Professor, Division of Continuing Professional Development, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia
Professor of Medical Education, Division of Population Health and Applied Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Date: Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Time: 12:00pm to 1:30pm
Hybrid: IRC Room 414 & Zoom*
Zoom Details: For connection details, please email ches.communications@ubc.ca.
Abstract
Life-long learning has been touted as a key skill for competent health professionals and includes how they may adapt to new information and practice experiences, and independently seek to learn more. The term self-directed learning (SDL) is commonly used to refer to this set of abilities that enables health professional learners and practitioners alike to take the initiative for leading their own learning. SDL has been described as a process, set of characteristics and a common approach often applied by practitioners throughout their careers to stay up-to-date and knowledgeable. Accrediting bodies now require demonstration of how medical education curriculum teaches in ways that foster SDL, however little guidance is offered on methods or ways to do this. The concept has often been described as illusive, intangible and somewhat ambiguous, and SDL is often misunderstood or confused with other terms. Further, the effectiveness of SDL versus other conventional teaching and learning methods has been questioned. However, given the continuous advances in medicine and the biomedical sciences, health professional learners and practitioners must be empowered and able to acquire new knowledge and skills throughout their careers. Common questions remain about what exactly SDL is, what abilities does it represent, and how can we teach and develop SDL for lifelong continuous learning over one’s career in medicine and as a healthcare provider. In this presentation, we will review the theoretical premises of SDL, emerging evidence, role of new digital, social and mobile technologies, and discuss methodological approaches to SDL teaching.
Biography
Dr. Vernon Curran has served as Associate Dean of Educational Development with the Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University for nine years and is a Professor of Medical Education with the Division of Population Health and Applied Health Sciences. He has also served as Director of Academic Research and Development with the Office of Professional Development and Director of the Centre for Collaborative Health Professional Education with the Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University. He has been Chair of the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) Committee on Continuing Professional Development and a past member of the Canadian Association of Medical Education (CAME) Board of Directors. He is currently a Visiting Professor with the Division of Continuing Professional Development, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia. He holds degrees in psychology, adult and continuing education, educational technology, applied health studies, and health and extension studies. His research has focused on digital health and learning in medicine, simulation-based medical education, continuing professional development, interprofessional education in the health professions, assessment and program evaluation in medical education, and adult education and health. Vernon also holds a cross-appointment with the Faculty of Education at Memorial University. He teaches in the areas of teaching and learning in medical education, educational scholarship and research in medical education, adult learning and development, adult education and health, and interprofessional education and collaboration in the health professions. He has been the recipient of the Canadian Association for Medical Education (CAME), 2024 Dr. Ian Hart Award for Distinguished Contribution to Medical Education, the Society for Academic Continuing Medical Education (SACME), 2019 Dr. Dave Davis Award for Research in Continuing Medical Education and the CAME, 2003 Junior Award for Contribution to Medical Education.
The Division of Continuing Professional Development, University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine (UBC CPD) is fully accredited by the Continuing Medical Education Accreditation Committee (CACME) to provide CPD credits for physicians. This one-credit-per-hour Group Learning program meets the certification criteria of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and has been certified by UBC CPD for up to 15 Mainpro+® credits. Each physician should claim only those credits accrued through participation in the activity. CFPC Session ID: 203168-001
RCPSC ACCREDITATION: The CHES Cutting Edge Speaker Series is a self-approved group learning activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.