Laying emphasis on inculcating conative skills in learners in medical schools, Ved Prakash Mishra, Chairman, Academic Committee, Medical Council of India, said a cognitive curriculum would not solely make a difference in life as conative skills are equally important.
He was delivering the keynote address at the inaugural programme of the Fourth National Conference – Authentic Learning Innovations for 21st Century Medicos – organised by medical education unit of the Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, a constituent college of Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, in Puducherry on Friday.
Mr. Mishra said an educator should look into what the nature of the individual is, what is the ignition of desire that has been contemplated in the individual, what is the level of commitment generation, what is the articulation of mental capacity generated and what is the level of self-determination which the person has been able to evolve for himself or herself.
“It is in this context that the application of conative skills becomes vital,” he said.
Stating that authentic learning is the modality required for the learners to deal with uncertainty, ambiguity, contradictions and complexity in life. A learner has to be equipped to deal with these things.
“This could be done only through authentic learning and not contextual learning. The repository of authenticity is accuracy,” he said.
Making a difference
He added: “Only the teachers who have made a difference in our life are deeply entrenched in our memories. What is the use if we do not make a difference in the life of a learner?”
The teachers should ensure that the learners collage group information and that it was converted into concepts. “This is the first step towards authentic learning. It will be the means towards the achievement,” he said.
In his presidential address, K.R. Sethuraman, Vice-Chancellor, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, said: “We cannot use the 20th Century tools to teach students now.
“Doctors have to prove themselves using critical thinking. Hence, authentic learning curriculum is important and laudable which will help medical students in resolving real world problems.”
M. Ravishankar, Dean, MGMCRI; Seetesh Ghose, joint organising secretary; and V.N. Mahalakshmi, organising secretary, Innovation Conference, participated.
