What Is a “Dynamic Classroom” (and Can It Help Me Get Into Medical School)?
One of the key features of the Tiber Health Master of Science in Medical Science (MSMS) program is the “dynamic classroom.” This type of classroom arrangement helps engage students more actively in their learning and also helps generate the data we use to track student progress and create USMLE Step 1 test predictions. In this article, we’ll shed some light on what the dynamic classroom is and the advantages it offers.
Online Lectures, In-Person Discussions
Dynamic classrooms “flip” the traditional university method of teaching. Instead of sitting through a lecture during in-person class time, students watch recorded lectures and complete readings online. They take a quick quiz to gauge their understanding of concepts presented in the lecture. Quiz data is passed on to the instructor.
Then, in class, students participate in active learning that reinforces material covered during the lecture. Active learning can include:
- Whole-class or small-group discussions
- Lab activities, such as virtual dissections
- Reviewing and analyzing case studies in small groups
- Clinical skills competency training
These activities challenge students not just to repeat ideas from the course material, but to think critically and apply it in practice. They also learn to collaborate with colleagues and communicate persuasively and informatively. During the class, students answer questions on tablet devices—answers that are passed on to the instructor.
Data-Driven Instruction
Online and in-class immediately generate data points that allow instructors to determine which concepts from the material are connecting with students and which need more reinforcement. They can adjust their lesson plans on the fly to address issues the entire class is having, or plan to intervene with individual students who are struggling in a specific area. Then, once they’ve re-taught the material, they can see how much the students have improved their understanding.
This type of instruction allows faculty to refine the way they deliver material to students in an informed, targeted manner that continually improves the program.
Predictive Analytics
In addition to generating data instructors can use, the dynamic classroom model gives students information they can act on, too. Beginning early in the program, the Tiber MSMS can offer students a prediction of their score on the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam Step 1. This offers students insights into their strengths and weaknesses, so they know where to focus their efforts when reviewing material or seeking out support from faculty. The USMLE score prediction also offers students reassurance that the material they’re learning is preparing them for success in medical school—and beyond.
Informed Advising
Finally, the many thousands of data points Tiber MSMS students generate allows staff at our partner schools to provide targeted academic and career advising. It’s possible that a student who comes into one of our programs aiming for an MD program would also make an excellent dentist or optometrist, and the data can help make those distinctions clearer. Staff and students can work together to create a personalized plan for preparing to apply to appropriate professional programs—a plan based on actionable data from the dynamic classroom.
Find a Tiber Health MSMS Partner School Near You
Forge your own path to medical school or another health professional program with Tiber Health’s Master of Science in Medical Science. Explore our partner schools today!
