Faculty from the CMCL-FAIMER Regional Institute (CMCL-FRI) conducted a two-day medical education workshop at Gandhi Medical College (GMC) in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, August 7\u20138, 2009. This is the fourth outreach activity undertaken by the CMCL-FAIMER Regional Institute faculty. CMCL-FRI Director Tejinder Singh (PHIL 2003), CMCL-FRI Secretary Dinesh Badyal (CMCL 2007), Jugesh Chhatwal (PHIL 2007), and Gagandeep Kwatra (CMCL 2006) led faculty development sessions employing interactive FAIMER methodologies. The first day of the workshop focused on learning principles, including a new session on taxonomy of learning. The second day was devoted to assessment sessions, including reliability, validity, and applicability of various types of assessment methods. A full setup for objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE) and objective structured practical examinations (OSPE) was created to provide a real feel for these methods to participants.<\/p>\n
There were 35 participants from GMC and Peoples Medical College, Bhopal, including five faculty members from GMC\u2019s Medical Education Unit (MEU). Dean of GMC Dr. Nirbhay Srivastava highlighted the qualities of a good medical teacher and emphasized how faculty development workshops can improve teaching\u2013learning activities. Dr Neelkamal Kapoor (CMCL 2009), Coordinator of GMC-MEU, stated that this was the first time that such a workshop, with interactive methodology, was conducted at GMC. She added that it prepared them to conduct a second workshop with local facilitators only, an important objective of the CMCL program. The CMCL team also used the gathering as an opportunity to give a brief introduction on FAIMER Regional Institutes and the application process.<\/p>\n
Feedback on the workshop was very positive, and all the participants appreciated the way they were kept involved throughout all sessions. At the closing ceremonies, Dr. V.K. Saini, Director of Medical Education, Madhya Pradesh, said that Government is making all efforts to help organize similar workshops for all medical teachers in the state. Dr. Tejinder Singh appreciated the efforts of local organizers for providing a very conducive atmosphere for the workshop.<\/p>\n