Which doctor?

cramerj · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 4

As far as anatomy teaching goes - it may well be that they can't get
the human bodies to disect for the students as was the case, say in the
50s. Then Anatomy was a two year hands on course.

Archived from group: aus>education

Don H · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 187

The trouble with education reform is - it seems to be all or nothing. Some
new teaching theory emerges and is dogmatically imposed, on the grounds that
all change is progress, and what is modern necessarily is superior to the
old and out-of-date.
This Weekend's "Australian" editorialised about Postmodernism in the
Medical Profession, whereby new techniques of teaching university medicine
may lead to decline in standards. The "culture wars" have invaded
humanities, and law, now medicine - supposedly to make life easier and more
enjoyable for students (but also easier for teachers?).
Yes, we might innovate, but let caution prevail, lest the tried and true
be replaced by the superficial and false, and Degree of Dr.Drongoism ends up
prevailing.
"I went to the doctor yesterday."
"Which doctor?"
"Yes, that's right."
The solution to all trendiness in teaching is simple: use a control for
the new technique, running parallel to the old, and see which system gives
the best result. Only if the new is proven better should it be accepted.
Surgeon: "Well, the operation is over, but I've good news, and bad."
Patient: "Tell me the bad news first."
Surgeon: "We amputated the wrong leg."
Patient (groan): "What's the good news."
Surgeon: "The other leg got better."
(Dr.Drongo: "What's 'amputated' mean?)
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Don H · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 187

"cramerj" wrote in message@i40g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> As far as anatomy teaching goes - it may well be that they can't get
> the human bodies to disect for the students as was the case, say in the
> 50s. Then Anatomy was a two year hands on course.
>
# Maybe so, but I haven't seen this advanced as a reason by anyone else.
"The Australian" leading article "Doctors fail basic anatomy" also says -
"The time devoted to other basic sciences - including biochemistry,
physiology and pathology - has also been reduced."
I'd be interested to know just who are making these proposed changes to
curricula across the academic field; what are their religious, political, or
other possible motivations; are there common factors?
Meanwhile, other nations are doubtless surging ahead, while Australia
slips backwards.