Key Academic Drivers for the Post Pandemic Classroom
We are all keenly aware of the unique challenges of teaching during the pandemic and in the “post-pandemic” era. The classroom landscape has changed in many ways for nearly all of us, not to mention the implications for staffing, budgeting, and implementation at the program level. This is why ATu is focusing on our 4 Key Academic Drivers–to help faculty and students thrive in this new and evolving classroom environment:
#1 Reduce Financial Burden for Students
Graduate education costs, along with the cost of just about everything else, is rising steadily. Students often have to pay the price as the cost is passed down to the learner. As educators, the responsibility falls to us to balance cost savings with efficacy when it comes to the resources we require our students to purchase.
Source: Chart of the Day: The Astronomical Rise in College Textbook Prices Vs. Consumer Prices and Recreational Books (link)
While there is definitely some material students can learn well from textbooks (think pathophysiology, human anatomy, and other non-motor skill subject areas), we have been able to carefully phase out many resources in our own classrooms in favor of ATu’s video library within our apps and e-learning content. In the long run, the cost of a 3-year ATu subscription while also eliminating some traditionally required resources, saved close to $1200 per student at some of our adopted programs. As we continue to build more content into the suite, the savings per student will only grow higher.
#2 Video-Based Resources for Millenial Learners
Millennials love videos. Between social media, video chat, streaming services, and all the like, every industry is driven by video-based resources. Especially in the post-pandemic era, videos are an essential part of every classroom, especially for the acquisition of motor skill development and emotional intelligence.
All of our videos are filmed in professional quality with a team of expert clinicians demonstrating the key motor skills for entry level programs, based on the most up-to-date literature. We take the heavy lifting out of filming, organizing, and distributing videos. This allows faculty to focus on innovating and scaffolding their students' learning experience rather than getting bogged down with re-verifying links to old videos each semester. Students are also able to preview these videos prior to class time, improve their retention of the information, and ultimately decrease anxiety surrounding motor skill acquisition.
#3 Clinical reasoning development
Clinical reasoning development is arguably one of the most critical aspects of any entry level program. Developing good clinicians hinges on the students’ ability to think critically, independently, and effectively–this is why ATu has focused so much on weaving clinical reasoning development into all of our apps, simulations, and e-learning content.
We have built over 90 e-learning and simulation modules based on Bloom’s Taxonomy to naturally guide students through a low-stakes learning experience, all designed to optimize the understanding, synthesis, and eventual clinical application of their didactic coursework. Faculty can use ATu’s downloadable learning reports to track their students learning and use them directly through the LMS as assignments to ensure continued engagement throughout the semester.
These learning reports allow students and faculty to see the past 5 attempts a student has made, their highest score, time spent, and the simulation completed. Assign shorter microlearning activities ahead of your lab or lecture to ensure students are engaged with the upcoming material or assign it afterwards to confirm understanding and help students review. Whatever you deem appropriate for your classroom, ATu is here to support you as you help to cultivate strong clinical reasoning skills in your students.
#4 Supports Students Across the Entire Curriculum
Our last key academic driver is to support students across the entire curriculum. ATu is a constantly growing library of evidence-based resources, built to solve the challenges of today’s classrooms.
One classroom at a time, we have built apps and simulations spanning the entire curriculum in the hopes that both faculty and students have the high-quality resources they need to enhance teaching and learning, support students during clinical rotations, and help bridge the gap from graduating student to new clinician. ATu is built to support students from day one through their professional journey into the clinic.