The class began for final-year medical students; as previously notified to them, I called the student who was assigned a five-minute presentation on the topic. As the student initiated the session and concluded enthusiastically, I was stunned by the student’s ability to conceptualise the topic, the presenting skills & grasp the section of the presentation. I had never thought a medical student could present so well. Fresh from my post-graduation and taking up a faculty position in a medical college, I was trying many ways to engage students & one of the ways was to assign a small topic for each session.
It was amazing to know that students have immense potential & skills which need to be encouraged & opportunities provided. In the meantime, I had forgotten when we were undergraduates, that rarely was an opportunity given. Once, five of the class were assigned an entire session on the basics of radiology. Interestingly, all our batchmates appreciated our session. All those memories & the fresh experience of witnessing this amazing student’s ability linger in my mind & then I always consider & assign some components to every session. It is a rich teaching-learning experience. Incidentally, the medical student turned out to be a passionate teacher during his postgraduate days & he married someone impressed with his teaching skills !!
(This article has previously appeared in MINDS Newsletter, Volume 12, Issue 11)
Dr. M. Kishor
Chairperson, IPS Faculty Development Subcommittee
HOD Psychiatry,
JSS Medical College & Hospital,
Mysuru, Karnataka, India
