Digital Histology Interest Group or DHIG

Hello all,

What do you consider to be histology competency? Does anyone have a form of histology competency "check list" used in their courses/programs/institutions and if so, could you share?

I have always considered the ability to demonstrate pattern recognition skills as the number one competency in histology followed by the ability to correlate structure and function, but I find it getting harder and harder to enforce/monitor/assess outside of the graduate course that I direct.

Thanks in advance!
Lisa

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Lisa Lee
Associate Professor
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Aurora CO
303-724-7460
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Lisa,
I attached two pages in the syllabus for the histology course that I teach online.
Page 5 answers this question: 

What is the nature of this course, its uniqueness and concepts I will learn?
Page 6 answers this question:
What are the General Learning Outcomes for this course?

Those are the competencies and 'checklists' in  my course.  Pattern recognition is included in the information provided to the student as a competency, although not stated as a competency but certainly implied.  As far as enforcing these, the only means that I think is by the examinations we provide.   One feature of the online course is that we test on recognition at two levels.  We provide specimens (static images) the students have seen and studied.  Every quiz and exam has a significant number of questions that use 'virtual slide specimens' that the student has not seen before.............like the 'traditional unknowns'.  This we think is toward testing on pattern recognition.
Bob

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Robert Ogilvie
Professor Emeritus
Medical University of South Carolina
Mount Pleasant SC
843-693-1065
-------------------------------------------

I agree with Lisa that pattern recognition is certainly a skill that students should develop in histology.  Another is observation.  Both of these skills are very useful to students in the health professions.  I suppose the way we assess student proficiency for these skills is their ability to identify various images on an exam.

I like Bob's list of learning outcomes/objectives.  Where I struggle is with the difference between learning outcomes and competencies.  The current trend in medical school is competencies.  To me competencies and outcomes/objectives seem very similar, but I'm told they are different although I never really heard a good explanation of what the difference is.  I suppose that Bob's outcomes would all fall under the knowledge for practice competency.  However, we are encouraged to find ways that material taught in basic science courses/modules can relate to the other competencies such as interpersonal and communication skils, professionalism, patient care, practice-based learning and improvement, systems based practice, personal and professional development and interprofessional collaboration.  Perhaps pattern recognition and observation could be listed under patient care (clinical skills).  Has anyone else struggled with this issue or found ways to adapt their learning objectives to other competencies besides knowledge for practice?
Dave

-------------------------------------------
David Bolender
Associate Professor
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee WI
414-955-8474
-------------------------------------------



Original Message:
Sent: 09-23-2014 08:37
From: Robert Ogilvie
Subject: Histology Competency?

Lisa,
I attached two pages in the syllabus for the histology course that I teach online.
Page 5 answers this question: 

What is the nature of this course, its uniqueness and concepts I will learn?
Page 6 answers this question:
What are the General Learning Outcomes for this course?

Those are the competencies and 'checklists' in  my course.  Pattern recognition is included in the information provided to the student as a competency, although not stated as a competency but certainly implied.  As far as enforcing these, the only means that I think is by the examinations we provide.   One feature of the online course is that we test on recognition at two levels.  We provide specimens (static images) the students have seen and studied.  Every quiz and exam has a significant number of questions that use 'virtual slide specimens' that the student has not seen before.............like the 'traditional unknowns'.  This we think is toward testing on pattern recognition.
Bob

-------------------------------------------
Robert Ogilvie
Professor Emeritus
Medical University of South Carolina
Mount Pleasant SC
843-693-1065
-------------------------------------------

I think they are similar too. I believe the differences between the 2 are that objectives are more specific (per lecture) while competencies are more global (over year long curricula).

-------------------------------------------
Linda May
Assistant Professor
East Carolina University
Greenville NC
252-737-7072
-------------------------------------------



Original Message:
Sent: 09-24-2014 13:42
From: David Bolender
Subject: Histology Competency?

I agree with Lisa that pattern recognition is certainly a skill that students should develop in histology.  Another is observation.  Both of these skills are very useful to students in the health professions.  I suppose the way we assess student proficiency for these skills is their ability to identify various images on an exam.

I like Bob's list of learning outcomes/objectives.  Where I struggle is with the difference between learning outcomes and competencies.  The current trend in medical school is competencies.  To me competencies and outcomes/objectives seem very similar, but I'm told they are different although I never really heard a good explanation of what the difference is.  I suppose that Bob's outcomes would all fall under the knowledge for practice competency.  However, we are encouraged to find ways that material taught in basic science courses/modules can relate to the other competencies such as interpersonal and communication skils, professionalism, patient care, practice-based learning and improvement, systems based practice, personal and professional development and interprofessional collaboration.  Perhaps pattern recognition and observation could be listed under patient care (clinical skills).  Has anyone else struggled with this issue or found ways to adapt their learning objectives to other competencies besides knowledge for practice?
Dave

-------------------------------------------
David Bolender
Associate Professor
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee WI
414-955-8474
-------------------------------------------

I agree that objectives and competencies could have an extensive overlap.

I use the following distinctions (and would love to hear what others use to differentiate the two):
 
Objectives are more specific outcomes that I can complete the following sentence with: At the end of this lecture or course, students should be able to....

For competency, I think of actual skills or knowledge sets that will apply in students' future practice (medical, dental, teaching, etc...).  So the competencies for medical students could be different than the competencies I expect out of graduate students geared toward education. 

-------------------------------------------
Lisa Lee
Associate Professor
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Aurora CO
303-724-7460
-------------------------------------------



Original Message:
Sent: 09-25-2014 07:20
From: Linda May
Subject: Histology Competency?

I think they are similar too. I believe the differences between the 2 are that objectives are more specific (per lecture) while competencies are more global (over year long curricula).

-------------------------------------------
Linda May
Assistant Professor
East Carolina University
Greenville NC
252-737-7072
-------------------------------------------



Original Message:
Sent: 09-24-2014 13:42
From: David Bolender
Subject: Histology Competency?

I agree with Lisa that pattern recognition is certainly a skill that students should develop in histology.  Another is observation.  Both of these skills are very useful to students in the health professions.  I suppose the way we assess student proficiency for these skills is their ability to identify various images on an exam.

I like Bob's list of learning outcomes/objectives.  Where I struggle is with the difference between learning outcomes and competencies.  The current trend in medical school is competencies.  To me competencies and outcomes/objectives seem very similar, but I'm told they are different although I never really heard a good explanation of what the difference is.  I suppose that Bob's outcomes would all fall under the knowledge for practice competency.  However, we are encouraged to find ways that material taught in basic science courses/modules can relate to the other competencies such as interpersonal and communication skils, professionalism, patient care, practice-based learning and improvement, systems based practice, personal and professional development and interprofessional collaboration.  Perhaps pattern recognition and observation could be listed under patient care (clinical skills).  Has anyone else struggled with this issue or found ways to adapt their learning objectives to other competencies besides knowledge for practice?
Dave

-------------------------------------------
David Bolender
Associate Professor
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee WI
414-955-8474
-------------------------------------------