My first week at the University of Newcastle

I've been here in Australia now for a week.  It has been great and I have learned so much.  I can't believe everything that I have learned and all of the people I have already met in the Joint Medical Program.  I have observed three PBL tutorials now - two 2nd year sessions and a 1st year session - a lecture, an anatomy lab and a skills training evening with the students.  I have met with PBL tutors, a Course Coordinator, all of the senior administrators from both locations of the Joint Medical Program, basic scientists in Medical Sciences and Biological Sciences, admissions experts, visited the Wollotuka Institute for Aboriginal activities at the University of Newcastle, participated in GP Club, attended a retreat for curriculum renewal in Scone and saw some old friends from Nepal.  Quite a week!

Next week is packed with lots to do as well and lots to learn.  I am meeting with a few groups of 1st and 2nd year students and I think that will be a great opportunity to find out a lot of information for my research and for their curriculum renewal process.  Looking forward to it!

PBL at the Joint Medical Program at the University of Newcastle

Today was my first day at the University of Newcastle.  I sat in on a basic science lecture for the 1st year students and then observed a 3-hour 2nd year tutorial session in the Endocrine block.  They were wrapping up a case about diabetes after a 2-week holiday.  It was really interesting for me to see yet another example of PBL that differs from what we do at UBC in Canada and different as well from PAHS in Nepal.
There are many things that make this program different from UBC's. 
1.  Students can enter straight from high school - of the 8 students in this tutorial, 6 were ~20 years old and straight from high school. 
2.  There are international students enrolled here.  One of the students in this group was from Malaysia.
3.  They only work on a case in 2 tutorial sessions - they start (or open, as they call it) on Tuesday and close on Monday.  The Monday sessions are 3 hours and the Tuesday sessions are 2 hours.
4.  There is only 1 trigger for the whole case - there is no progression through a case.
5.  There appears to be a real emphasis on the basic sciences with little reference back to the clinical case or scenario.
6.  Students read straight from their notes and teach each other a lot of the learning targets.
7.  One student is responsible for each learning target - so there is very little discussion from the others.

I will have to see if this was just tutorial-specific or if this is just such a different PBL program.  I will observe another 2nd year tutorial tomorrow morning with a different tutor.  It was a great experience and I think that we can learn a lot from each other.

On my way!

I did it.  I managed to pack one month's worth of clothes, shoes, jackets and bags into one suitcase.  I am amazed.  I leave in a few hours to head to Vancouver and then at 11:40 pm I get on the LONG plane ride to Sydney.  15.5 hours.  Good thing I have a good book to read!  Thanks Audrey!
I arrive in Sydney on the 7th and will stay with Erin for the night.  Then I hop on a train for Newcastle.  I am looking forward to seeing the Dunkleys again.
My adventures in medical education research begin!