I wanted to thank everyone for the responses and support I received (both experienced and newbies like myself)! This listserv gave me what I desperately needed – encouragement and a sounding board for the insecurities I felt, and I’m so grateful.

I started today’s class with a little talk including telling them that I read their survey results and had reached out to those far more experienced with TBL than I to learn more about how I can improve the course and how we’re conducting it.  I also reminded them that I only want the best for them and their learning. Well tonight, I received the most wonderful email from one of the students. It’s like the universe knew I also needed some positive reinforcement from the student side. I’d like to share it with everyone as a nice way to conclude this listserv string and perhaps provide support for anyone else in a similar place to me:

______

Dr. Newman,

I'd like to take a moment to place my name behind a critique of the new format for ClinPath.  I love it.  If this had been the format of the entire DVM curriculum, I feel I would have learned a lot more and I already loved cased-based learning.  I cannot express how much more I prefer this method to hours of lecture. 

Who is really paying attention after 20 minutes? Who is retaining anything?  4 hours of lecture equates to 3 hours and 40 minutes of wasted time.  It always has, and who has 3 hours and 40 minutes of time to waste in vet school?  I certainly don't.  This approach is new, it's having growing pains, but it absolutely the most fun I have had in vet school to date.  It is the most "real" a class has felt compared to real life working in a team.  For the first time I feel like I am finding my stride and really absorbing the material instead of slamming my head against obtuse presentation slides and trying to pay attention to the third time I listening through 15-20 hours of recorded lectures.  I have SO little stress in this class.  It's absolutely freaking amazing the reduction if frustration, and effort it is taking.  Forgive my lack of professional phrasing, but "this rocks".  I look forward to class. 

People like to complain more than they like say nice things.  I am sorry for that.  It's also very easy to vent frustration rather than give objective critiques when you don't have to attach your name. 

Forcing them out of the box was going to cause some frustration.  Growing is always painful and always worth it.  As a 40 year old mother of 3, I can tell you I didn't make my IT career waiting for information to come to me.  I had to learn to teach myself, to innovate, and when to reach out to a team.  This class develops all those strengths so yeah, adjust a bit to the lessons learned but keep doing what you are doing. 

I love team based learning!

Ashleigh W. Newman, VMD, DACVP

Assistant Clinical Professor, Clinical Pathology

Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

S1 056 Schurman Hall

602 Tower Road

Ithaca, NY, 14853

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