Community Based Education in a South African Context: Was Socrates Right?
Overseeing medical students working in small rural clinics challenges both the students and the lecturers. How does one evaluate a learning experience that does not involve memorising facts? Socrates (470-399 BC) maintained that the teacher's role was not to impart knowledge but rather to expos...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2000-04-01
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| Series: | South African Family Practice |
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| Online Access: | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/2179 |
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| author | D. Cameron |
| author_facet | D. Cameron |
| author_sort | D. Cameron |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Overseeing medical students working in small rural clinics challenges both the students and the lecturers. How does one evaluate a learning experience that does not involve memorising facts? Socrates (470-399 BC) maintained that the teacher's role was not to impart knowledge but rather to expose ignorance and encourage a process of self-discovery. According to Socrates, the outcome of this process was a new understanding of oneself, a sense of emotional balance and an increased consciousness of one's social responsibilities. This study evolved as I participated in the process of teaching students and became forcefully struck by their comments in their rotation reports. A qualitative analysis of 150 student reports was carried out and the major themes were highlighted. Those themes included: being overwhelmed by the difficulties and frustrations of an inadequate service, being challenged by cross cultural issues, comparing notes with traditional African medicine, reassessing compulsory community service and a changed vision about oneself and one's future career. A community-based experience in a rural clinic is definitely one way of preparing future doctors to meet the challenge of health care in South Africa. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5d14480c56b440d19b8e712cd28995e0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2078-6190 2078-6204 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2000-04-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Family Practice |
| spelling | doaj-art-5d14480c56b440d19b8e712cd28995e02025-08-20T04:03:17ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042000-04-0122210.4102/safp.v22i2.21791720Community Based Education in a South African Context: Was Socrates Right?D. Cameron0University of PretoriaOverseeing medical students working in small rural clinics challenges both the students and the lecturers. How does one evaluate a learning experience that does not involve memorising facts? Socrates (470-399 BC) maintained that the teacher's role was not to impart knowledge but rather to expose ignorance and encourage a process of self-discovery. According to Socrates, the outcome of this process was a new understanding of oneself, a sense of emotional balance and an increased consciousness of one's social responsibilities. This study evolved as I participated in the process of teaching students and became forcefully struck by their comments in their rotation reports. A qualitative analysis of 150 student reports was carried out and the major themes were highlighted. Those themes included: being overwhelmed by the difficulties and frustrations of an inadequate service, being challenged by cross cultural issues, comparing notes with traditional African medicine, reassessing compulsory community service and a changed vision about oneself and one's future career. A community-based experience in a rural clinic is definitely one way of preparing future doctors to meet the challenge of health care in South Africa.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/2179medical educationcommunity based educationundergraduate medical educationqualitative analysis |
| spellingShingle | D. Cameron Community Based Education in a South African Context: Was Socrates Right? South African Family Practice medical education community based education undergraduate medical education qualitative analysis |
| title | Community Based Education in a South African Context: Was Socrates Right? |
| title_full | Community Based Education in a South African Context: Was Socrates Right? |
| title_fullStr | Community Based Education in a South African Context: Was Socrates Right? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Community Based Education in a South African Context: Was Socrates Right? |
| title_short | Community Based Education in a South African Context: Was Socrates Right? |
| title_sort | community based education in a south african context was socrates right |
| topic | medical education community based education undergraduate medical education qualitative analysis |
| url | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/2179 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dcameron communitybasededucationinasouthafricancontextwassocratesright |