Unit information: Professionalism: defining, teaching and assessing in 2015/16

Unit name	Professionalism: defining, teaching and assessing
Unit code	MEEDM0020
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Mr. Atkinson
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	PG Certificate in Teaching and Learning for Health Professionals
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Teaching and Learning for Health Professionals
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

In this unit we explore the concept of professional values that underpin professionalism in order to identify effective methods for selection, teaching, learning and assessment.

Professional values are a core strand in health care teaching and training. In this unit students will explore what it means to be a professional in the health professions. Students will explore the core values that underpin definitions of professionalism in their own working context.

Students will then explore issues around the teaching and assessment of professional values:

• What are the most effective methods for teaching and learning professional values?
• How and when should professionalism be assessed?
• How should we select for professional programmes?
• How does training in professional values impact on later training and practice?

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the unit students will have:

• Compared and contrasted different models of professional values
• Analysed the concept of professionalism in their own context identifying underpinning values
• Explored and critiqued different approaches to teaching and learning professional values
• Considered and evaluated different methods of assessment of professional values
• Discussed and evaluated different methods of selection for professional programmes

Teaching Information

e-learning – pre-course materials on Blackboard and use of tools, such as discussion board and wiki

Face to face

• Discussion
• Seminar
• Small group activities

Assessment Information

Formative assessment: feedback on face-to-face activities and online activities

Summative assessment: (100%):

Reflective assignment of 3000 words:

Pick one of the agreed core values for entrance to your profession. Critically analyse how or if this selected value can be selected for, taught, learnt and assessed.

Reading and References

Royal College of Physicians (2005). Doctors in Society: Medical professionalism in a changing world. ISBN:1 86016 255 X.

Birden et al (2013) Teaching professionalism in medical education: a Best Evidence Medical Education (BEME) systematic review. BEME Guide No. 25.

Cruess RL, Cruess SR & Steinert Y (2009). Teaching Medical Professionalism. Cambridge University Press. ISBN:978-0-521-70742-8.

Stern DT (2006). Measuring Medical Professionalism. OUP. ISBN:0195172264.

Codes of conduct relevant to students.