PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
Teaching epidemiological concepts in academic settings poses a challenge due to the intricate nature of the discipline as both a science and a practice. Whereas traditional classroom-based teaching methods are commonly employed, evidence suggests they may not be the most effective approach for fostering core competencies and skills required in real-life scientific work. In this article, we describe our process of transitioning from traditional classroom teaching of epidemiology towards practice-based coaching to convey epidemiological concepts to bachelor\'s and master\'s students in Biomedicine. We chose the framework of randomized controlled trials (RCT) since they offer a great opportunity to teach epidemiological concepts in a hands-on course. This practice-based course encompasses the entire life cycle of a study, allowing students to design and conduct a short-term experiment, analyse its data and prepare a scientific paper. We provide a comprehensive overview of the course structure, content, learning objectives and course evaluation, while also discussing the advantages and disadvantages of this innovative format. Our approach offers a promising alternative to classroom teaching by incorporating practical, hands-on experiences offering students a high level of independence and self-determination, as well as facilitation and coaching by faculty. It has the potential to be applied across diverse academic settings, providing students with valuable skills and competencies in epidemiology.
摘要：
由于学科作为科学和实践的复杂性，在学术环境中教授流行病学概念提出了挑战。虽然传统的课堂教学方法普遍采用，有证据表明，它们可能不是培养现实生活中科学工作所需的核心能力和技能的最有效方法。在这篇文章中,我们描述了我们从传统的流行病学课堂教学向基于实践的指导过渡的过程，以将流行病学概念传达给生物医学领域的学士和硕士学生。我们选择了随机对照试验（RCT）的框架，因为它们提供了在实践课程中教授流行病学概念的绝佳机会。这个以实践为基础的课程涵盖了研究的整个生命周期，允许学生设计和进行短期实验，分析其数据并准备科学论文。我们提供课程结构的全面概述，内容,学习目标和课程评估，同时还讨论了这种创新格式的优缺点。我们的方法提供了一个有前途的替代课堂教学，结合实际，实践经验为学生提供高水平的独立性和自决权，以及教师的便利和指导。它有可能在不同的学术环境中应用，为学生提供有价值的流行病学技能和能力。
