PBL Tutor Training at PAHS

Yesterday we wrapped up a 16-hour 2-day PBL (Problem-Based Learning) Tutor Training Workshop at PAHS.  It was a lot of fun, but exhausting at the same time!  We trained 24 various clinicians and basic scientists from PAHS, Patan Hospital as well as others from other hospitals and schools in Kathmandu.  They were such a great group and it was a lot of fun.  I learned so much from them and their great questions.  I think I have enough ideas for 10 research projects in medical education!

This time, we were able to have 8 PAHS medical students help us as mock students to demonstrate the PBL process to the participants.  Four were from 1st year and four from 2nd year.  They did such a great job and took time out of their busy schedules to help us and we really appreciated it!  The tutor trainees were so impressed with their PBL skills - they commented that they were not as smart when they were in medical school.

Hopefully we have managed to increase the number of PBL tutors for PAHS-SOM now.

All the Tutor Training graduates, trainers and Arjun Kharki the Vice Chancellor of PAHS

Shambhu and I setting up

Me - talking about PBL

Day 1 - Acting as a PBL tutor with PAHS students while trainees watch

Workshopping

Day 2 - Mock PBL again

Shambhu thanking the workshop particpants and introducing Arjun

Arjun thanking everyone and congratulating the graduates!

PBL at PAHS - Batch # 2

I am back in a PBL tutorial watching the 2nd batch of PAHS 1st year students work their way through this case. It's like déjà vu! I guess this is how it is at home too. There are 5 female students and 4 males students, the tutor, Dr. Prasai, a UBC student named Adam and me. The case, "A Bit Late" is the same one as last year. It's a tough one and there is a lot to learn and know. There is that same attitude of 'knowing' everything from the students, even though they clearly do not know. The tutor is asking great questions but the students just give one word answers or use the dictionary for definitions that are far too difficult to understand that way.

Someone has written, "I love being a Republican." on the whiteboard. The political situation here is on everyone's minds. Today is a dangerous day - the last day of protests and demonstrations. Sabita has to rush out after PBL in order to get home at all. She was stuck here until 8 pm the other day due to the situation that is going on here. I'm glad I had a chance to see her. It is great to be back here at PAHS and to see my old friends and colleagues. I have seen Satish, Bibek, Sabita, Shambhu and others already! It feels almost like I have never left. I feel at home here.

We are having a PAHS hosted dinner on Thursday night to thank those people who are leaving for their contribution to the teaching and learning here. It seems as though almost everyone is leaving on or around June 1st!  I will just be getting started my teaching then.

Back in Kathmandu!

I made it!  I am safe and sound in Shalom Guesthouse in Kathmandu, Nepal.  The flight this morning from Bangkok was good and my arrival at the airport in Kathmandu was surprisingly easy and low key.  I wonder if it's because it's a Saturday?  There were hardly any people and the chaos I am used to was very diminished.  I even had Anil from Patan Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS - the medical school I am teaching at) manage to come pick me up, despite the protests and blocked roads due to demonstrations.  It was so nice to see a familiar face in the throng of taxi drivers outside the airport.

He explained to me that some roads were blocked due to protests and we had to take a few detours to avoid large gatherings and crowds.

He advised me that today and tomorrow would be dangerous days to be outside as these are the last 2 days before the new Constitution comes in on May 28th.  These are the last 2 days for protests and demonstrations.  There were Nepali police with riot gear everywhere along our drive!  I think I will definitely listen to his advice and stay indoors!

We made it to the new Shalom Guesthouse location - not too far from where the old one was.  Anil had to back down a super narrow road to get me to the house and then my Didi Mahili showed us to my room.  It's a big spacious room with lots of windows - it will be nice to have the cross breeze - it is SO hot here!

Near Shalom

So I am just relaxing here in my room.  Glad to be finished the long journey.  We'll see what tomorrow brings.  I haven't seen Peggy yet, a colleague from Camosun College who is here to observe PBL in the medical school and to help me train the faculty in problem-based learning.  She is also staying at Shalom.  It will be nice to see her!  I will also see Katie tomorrow and all of my PAHS colleagues and students!  Can't wait!