Employing a structured framework to deal with problem learners: Role of medical teachers

Abstract

The field of medicine is quite complex, which makes it extremely difficult for students to accomplish the learning outcomes at an identical pace. The medical teachers often have to deal with the students, who either lag on the cognitive aspect or have problems related to their attitude or behavior. These students are broadly referred as “problem learners” and it becomes extremely important for the teachers to give due attention to their needs. Under ideal circumstances, it is always an encouraging practice to have a structured framework within a medical college, which will not only help the teachers in the identification of the problem learners, but also aid in the planning and assessing the impact of the intervention specific to a student. In conclusion, the presence of a problem learner in the field of medicine cannot be denied. However, the important thing will be to identify them at the earliest and give due consideration to teacher and system-related attributes. The entire process should be driven by the teachers, and they should offer them support and help the learners to overcome their issues.