A preview of the new Foundations Curriculum: an integrated and engaging learning experience

“People learn in different ways,” asserts Dana Pennell, a 1T8 student at the Mississauga Academy of Medicine (MAM). “For me, a large lecture hall isn’t necessarily my ideal learning environment. Some students need to be able to pause and discuss things in groups to fully digest and absorb content. The new Foundations Curriculum supports this way of learning.”

The start of the 2015-2016 academic year marked the second opportunity for the 1T8 class to preview and provide feedback on aspects of the new Foundations Curriculum. The class experienced their second Case-Based Learning (CBL) unit over three weeks covering the topics of cell damage, inflammation and neoplasia. 

To support their CBL experience, students were given online modules containing virtual patient cases guided by a virtual preceptor. “Providing all the case information, in addition to reliable resources, in one place online makes learning more accessible,” says Dana. “It also prepares students to be independent and to learn how to research to find the answers we need on our own.”