Background
For almost a decade, faculty teaching and student learning have received increasing attention both within and outside of the college and university. Calls for greater accountability and a renewed commitment to teaching have placed additional role demands on health professions educators, who are already juggling their teaching responsibilities with expectations for excellence in the areas of service and research. While most of these educators are committed to improved student learning, many have never acquired the knowledge and skills to become exemplary teachers.
Key Partners -
The Education Scholar project was conceived to provide a national, health professions-wide program that develops and enables the recognition of excellence in teaching. Key partners in this effort are Western University of Health Sciences and its Master of Science in Health Professions Education (MSHPE) program and the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) and its Center for the Advancement of Pharmaceutical Education (CAPE). Other participants in the development process include the following associations of health professions education.
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
- American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM)
- American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP)
- American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine (AACPM)
- American Dental Education Association (ADEA)
- Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO)
- Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions (ASAHP)
- Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH)
Project History -
A panel of curriculum design experts selected from the above eight national organizations of health professions education was assembled to determine educational outcomes and content for the Education Scholar program. Content experts, instructional design specialists, and technical advisors were then recruited to develop educational content, determine delivery and assessment methods, and produce the necessary courseware. A marketing survey conducted in 1998 identified a growing need for such a program among health professions faculty, and additional sponsorship was sought. In Fall of 1999, a pilot module (Module 3) was completed, marking the official launch of the Education Scholar Program. The remaining modules were released in 2002.
