Learner-centred teaching: Part 1 – modifying the current approach

According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists and adult education theory, postgraduate medical education should focus on three domains:

• the doctor in training

• regular clinical supervision

• educational supervision (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2009).

The College also recommends that training in psychiatry should involve 'an active method of continuing professional development and learning through the use of reflective practices’.

One of the intended learning outcomes for psychiatry trainees is to ‘develop and utilise the ability to teach, assess and appraise’ (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2009), and much of our work with patients and carers has an educational element.

Thus, it becomes imperative that teaching in psychiatry should look at methods to improve the scope for self-directed learning and motivate trainees/students to engage in lifelong study.

This module is a guide to modifying current methods of both teaching and learning to suit learner-centred approaches.

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