Teaching Anatomy: Effective Use of Modified Team-Based Learning Strategy

In the twenty-first-century medical education, the integration of basic sciences in the preclinical medical curriculum has caused a reduction in time to teach anatomy. Team-based learning (TBL), which engages students in their learning, is an ideal pedagogical strategy to teach anatomy despite its conceptually challenging nature. TBL combines various aspects of the adult learning theories in a unique way, so that learning is self-directed but guided by the faculty. The model of TBL focuses on learning defined by pre-class preparation that utilizes a content-specific learning/study guide, followed by in-class team discussion. Team discussion is an effective form of peer teaching; session content is discussed and clarification questions answered that allow students to reflect upon their learning and remediate any content-specific knowledge deficits. There is improved learner engagement with the course content that allows development of higher levels of learning—application, analysis, and evaluation. Adopting TBL improved class attendance and performance.