QUALITY OF LIFE - National Cancer Centre Singapore

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People
SALUBRIS
September / October 2011
LAYING THE TRACKS
FOR DUKE-NUS’ FUTURE
CLINICIAN SCIENTISTS
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People
SALUBRIS
September / October 2011
Continued from page B3.
The local faculty developed a curriculum that supplemented the
video lectures and programme provided by Duke University. For
the students, they benefited from learning from a one-of-a-kind
programme where they could acquire knowledge from the
What needs to be addressed now is how the curriculum can continue
to be engaging for the next batch of students. Both professors already
have some new learning strategies in mind. Their priority is to put
together materials that maximise the students’ learning.
best of two worlds – a leading medical college and a leading
medical institution.
“The Duke-NUS students are working hard to master two
courses, albeit complementary, simultaneously. They became
highly motivated and driven for success.”
“The students can learn how to prioritise their preparation for
class sessions with clearer direction from the faculty. It may
help that they understand the rational framework for each topic
before the inundation of facts and factoids. Reading materials
can also be more appropriately selected and realistically scaled
to the preparation time that students have.”
Prof Kon Oi Lian
Prof Koong Heng Nung
The Team-Based Learning approach was strongly advocated throughout the course
developed by Prof Kon and A/Prof Tan. It requires the students to be divided into
teams of six to eight students. They take their assignments as a team and grades
were assigned on individual and team performance.
To ensure the programme’s effectiveness, the faculty had to produce preparatory
and class room materials that were well designed and of high standards. To
supplement and complement the US and Singapore content, it introduced short
test questions and proof of application.
A/Prof Tan believes that the new curriculum should also be about helping the
students focus on what is really important and to make them feel the pulse of
research. “One important work-in-progress we have lies in getting the faculty
members to list the key learning objectives of each team-based learning session
and striking a balance between pet topics of faculty members and key general
concepts. We should also get students to be excited about research, and let
them witness how discoveries, translated from bench to bedside, can radically
transform and improve clinical practice. If we can achieve this, then I am sure
we have succeeded.”
According to Prof Kon, the approach not only benefitted the students
but also the faculty.
“It relieved the faculty from doing all the work during lectures,
placing the responsibility of learning squarely on the students and
offering great potential for developing deep learning. Students were
able to acquire collegial skills of working in teams and to develop
firm friendships.”
Another innovation is the availability of all lectures on
hard-drives before the commencement of the course.
This way the students can prepare for their classes ahead
of time and spend class time working on their assignments.
Added Prof Kon, “We all learned a good deal of what it took to make learning
interesting, stimulating and enduring.”
PROF KON OI LIAN
Despite the high demands on the students, they
graduated with flying colours.
Prof Kon said that the curriculum has been
helpful in getting the students to achieve
success. “My impression is that although the
students continually find the curriculum and
learning methods rather challenging, they do
enjoy learning in teams, acquiring confidence
to explain their answers and pursuing areas of
doubt to clear resolution.”
The commitment shown by our clinicians and scientists in their quest
for a better curriculum has also made an impression on the current
batch of students such as Mr Christopher Ross Schlieve of Class
2013. Motivated by Prof Koong, who was conferred the Pioneer and
Outstanding Educator Awards. Mr Schlieve decided to enroll into the
surgical clerkship elective and has not looked back since.
He said ”Prof Koong is constantly thinking of new and unique ways to engage us
as learners. He has devised a multitude of learning tools that has maximised our
learning within the clerkship.”
His colleague, Ms Fatima Usmani could not agree more. “Prof Koong’s
commitment to our learning made itself evident repeatedly during our surgical
clerkship as he taught me and my colleagues to extract valuable conceptual
lessons from seemingly mundane clinical experience. By glancing at our answers,
addressing our approaches and giving us constructive feedback, he effectively
created an environment in which we were able to question, reflect, learn from one
another, and address our own weaknesses.”
PROF KOONG HENG NUNG
To date, 16 NCCS staff members are
holding teaching positions at the
medical school. NCCS Director Prof Soo
Khee Chee leads the team as the Duke-
NUS Vice Dean of Clinical and Faculty
Affairs. In shouldering this added
responsibility they are paving the way
for NCCS to attain its goal of becoming
a global leading cancer centre in patient
care and research, as well as education.
By Veronica Lee