/Institutions/University-of-Texas-Rio-Grande-Valley/json/som/policies-local.json

/Institutions/University-of-Texas-Rio-Grande-Valley/json/som/policies.json

EAA052 Pre-Clerkship Scheduled Workload Hours

Policy Number: EAA052
Policy Title: Pre-Clerkship Scheduled Workload Hours

A. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to protect and maximize student learning time and opportunities for unstructured, independent and self-directed learning within the formal / structured curriculum. Scheduled curricular activities are not to conflict with, nor overlap with self-directed time. This policy meets the LCME requirements of Element 6.3 (Self-Directed and Life-Long Learning) and Element 8.8 (Monitoring Student Time).

B. Persons Affected

This policy applies to all faculty associated with the delivery of the Pre-Clerkship curriculum

C. Definitions

 

Scheduled required learning activities: Scheduled required learning activities include lectures, small-group discussions, laboratories, patient panels, student presentations, assessments, and any other instruction that occurs at a time specified in a course syllabus or schedule.

Unscheduled required learning activities: Unscheduled required learning activities include but is not limited to asynchronous online learning, pre-readings, viewing of a pre- recorded lecture or videos for flipped classroom sessions, protected time for completion of group assignments and student presentations.

Optional learning activities: Optional learning activities include optional review or open laboratory sessions.

Self-Directed learning activities: Self-Directed learning activities include time spent studying and reading, completing assigned readings and attending optional review sessions not formally scheduled in a course syllabus or schedule. This time is intended for students to engage in studying and self-directed learning outside of contact hours.

D. Policy

The contact hours of scheduled and unscheduled required learning activities should not exceed 28 hours per week in the Pre-Clerkship phase of the curriculum. Weekly workloads of required learning activities must follow the following formula: 

Scheduled required learning activities (hours) + Unscheduled required learning activities (hours) < 28 hours.

Learning Activities include but are not limited to:

Scheduled Activities

• Clinical experiences
• lnterprofessional Education activities
• Labatory sessions
• Lectures
• Problem-based Learning sessions
• Large group sessions (e.g. panels, flipped classrooms, team-based learning sessions)
• Quiz review sessions
• Review sessions (e.g. exam, lecture reviews)
• Clinical Skills Sessions
• Small group sessions
• Assessments (e.g. quizzes, exams, and OSCEs)

Unscheduled Activities

• Problem based learning preparation time
• Required pre-readings or videos
• Protected time to complete assignments

 

To facilitate self-directed learning, a minimum of 8 hours a week will be protected as unscheduled opportunity time