Syllabus

EXPERT SKILLS PROGRAM COURSE

CLME 8221
Fall 2016
I. COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is modeled after the Expert Skills Program (ESP) at Texas Tech University Health
Sciences Center. The ESP is named to reflect the broad goal of acquiring expert skills in areas
ranging from clinical reasoning, patient examination, and communication to the fine motor skills
employed in clinical procedures. This program initiates skill development prior to formal clinical
training by matching the steps used in clinical skills to the steps involved in higher order thinking
skills. The course is divided into 3 blocks: Block 1 completed before orientation or July 28; Block 2
completed at Orientation or on August 4; Block 3 completed for MSI students at the end of Spring
2017 and for MSII completed at the end of Spring 2017 semester.
II. COURSE GOALS
1. The ESP provides a step-by-step process to demonstrate how higher order thinking and
memorization thinking combine to produce whole brain skills that are needed in clinical
practice.
2. The ESP is based on evidence from human performance research over the past decade that has
identified the practices necessary to achieve expert skill development in the practice of
medicine.
3. The concept that has emerged as the key to skill development is Deliberate Practice (DP).
4. Deliberate Practice serves as the core concept in the Expert Skills Program.
III. OSU-COM GOALS AND COURSE OBJECTIVES
OSU-COM Goals at http://www.healthsciences.okstate.edu/about/missionvision.php
Course Objectives. Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Apply the latest brain research to efficiently develop higher order thinking skills
Examine the importance of learning style
Evaluate the neurobiology of learning
Discuss the role of slow wave sleep in changing the brain
Apply deliberate practice through concept mapping and self-directed group analysis of practice
questions
6. Develop a concept map for maximal efficiency in reading difficult material
7. Use a question analysis method to review COMLEX 1 or Step 1 problems in small groups
8. Use a question analysis method to review problems/questions in ongoing courses

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IV. CREDIT HOURS & CONTACT HOURS

The Expert Skills Program course is a one credit-hour course and contains one contact/meeting hour
per week for sixteen weeks during the semester. If you complete the course by attending all sessions,
you will receive one credit hour.
V. LEARNING RESOURCES
Required Texts:

Pelley, JW and Dalley, BK (2008). SuccessTypes in Medical Education: A Program for Improving
Academic Performance Version 1.1. Published by John W. Pelley, PhD, Department of Cell
Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine,
3601 Fourth Street, Lubbock, TX 79430 ISBN: 0-9665049-0-9 Free online as a pdf document at
the ESP LCMS+ site.

Sefcik, D, Bice, G, and Prerost, F (2012) How to Study for Standardized Tests, Edition 1.
Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. ISBN-10: 076377362X | ISBN-13: 978-0763773625.
You can obtain this book from your preferred source. The OSUCHS library has 9 copies available
for checkout.

Additional Required Readings and Activities:

In addition to assigned readings from the required books above, students will also be asked to read
and complete assignments on the course management system (LCMS+) and from the online Texas
Tech Online Expert Skills Program website at:
http://www.ttuhsc.edu/som/success/nonttuesp_features.aspx

VI. STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Most instruction for Block 1 will occur through self-directed means utilizing completion of study
guides, online videos, or assignments directed through LCMS+. The assignments in Block 1 will
be submitted to a dropbox in LCMS+ and these will be reviewed by faculty or course staff. A
schedule or calendar will direct your activity and progress. Block 2 will be a short session during
orientation when students become acquainted with their group members. Other instruction (in
Block 3) will be self-directed through student small group sessions in the analysis of multiple
choice questions. These sessions will meet for hour each week on Friday and will be scheduled
around other classes, so they will not interfere with MS1 or MS2 classes. The times of these
sessions will be in the fall 2016 schedule and sessions will be in campus breakout rooms.
2. Attendance Policy. Attendance will be necessary for the session during orientation in Block 2 and
then for Block 3 that includes small group multiple choice question analysis and discussion. For
you to succeed in this program, you must participate in all activities. Although attendance will not
be monitored, you are strongly encouraged to be present at all scheduled activities. What do you
do if you miss an activity (especially on group days)? If you miss small group activities in
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Block 3 due to illness or emergency, contact Dr. Meek. Everyone must contribute to their group,
Success Breeds Success.

3. Required Course Evaluations. Students are required to submit an online evaluation for this
course at some point during the first or second year of the course. Course evaluations will be
available online only. If an evaluation is not submitted and received before the deadline given, the
student will be assigned a Needs Improvement Non-Cognitive grade in the course until the
evaluation is received. A link to the evaluation will be sent to each students okstate e-mail
address; the link is individual and cannot be shared with others. If you need an e-mail with your
link sent again or have problems, please contact Brandy Close in the Department of Medical
Education (brandy.close@okstate.edu or 918-561-8473). You may also be assigned randomly to
serve with a small group of student representatives to create a 2-3 executive summary from the
evaluations submitted by students. You will be assigned a Needs Improvement Non-Cognitive
grade, if you fail to fully participate in this group and the creation of the summary. The grade of S
(satisfactory) or N (needs improvement) will be assigned based on performance with regards to the
Colleges non-cognitive academic standards. A grade of N will be accompanied by a written
statement describing the deficiency that led to the grade and the non-cognitive standard(s) for
which the student was deficient. The non-cognitive academic standards and the guidelines for
assigning grades may be found in the OSU-COM Academic Standards Handbook.
4. Student Professionalism. Students in the course are expected to exhibit professionalism, which
includes the following:
1. Reliability and dependability in attending, preparing for and participating in course activities,
2. Communicate respectfully, articulately, and confidently in course activities,
3. Engagement in active learning,
4. Putting your peers needs above your own in the active learning environment,
5. Accepting and applying constructive feedback about your performance in the course,
6. Behaving in an ethical manner with regard to academic conduct (see Academic Integrity
section of the syllabus below) and abiding by the rules and regulations of the College
7. Demonstrating a desire to exceed expectations (i.e., minimal standards and requirements for
tasks, assignments and responsibilities).
(Adapted from Hammer, DP, Berger, BA, Beardsley, RS, Easton, MR. Excellence series papers:
Students professionalism. American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, 2003.

5. Academic Dishonesty. The Academic Dishonesty Policy is seen under the student affairs
section under Academic Information at
http://www.healthsciences.okstate.edu/student/academic_info/dishonesty.cfm.
Please review this policy.

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6. Copyright & Fair Use Policy of Course Materials. Course materials may not be published,
leased, sold to others, or used for any purpose other than appropriate OSU-related individual or
group study without the written permission of the faculty member in charge of the course and
other copyright holders. This paragraph grants you a limited license giving you access to materials
for this course, including PowerPoint slides, audio/video recordings, written, or other materials,
for appropriate OSU-related educational use only. Lectures should not be recorded without
permission from the faculty member and must not be further disseminated or shared. ESP
questions for discussion are property of the course director, course coordinator, and instructors and
should remain within the ESP course. If a fellow student wants access to questions, they should
enroll in the course.
7. General Expectations of Students. By enrolling at Oklahoma State University Center for Health
Sciences, you accept responsibility for complying with all University policies and contracts, and
for local, state and federal laws on- or off-campus that relate to the Universitys mission. The
Academic Standards Handbook explains the standards of behavior expected of you, processes in
place for enforcing the rules, and the Universitys response to
violations http://www.healthsciences.okstate.edu/com/academics/standards.php.
In general, the University expects you to respect the rights of others and authorities, represent
yourself truthfully and accurately at all times, respect private and public property, and take
responsibility for your own actions and the actions of your guest(s).
8. Social Media Policy. The ESP course may have a Facebook page. Students are encouraged to
share experiences, photos, and videos relevant to certain activities within courses at OSU-CHS
(i.e. the service learning module). However, each student will be responsible for knowing and
following each agencys and the OSU policy regarding information, photographs, and videos
dispersed through Facebook, Twitter, or through other public sites. Violation of these policies will
result in consequences for the student(s) involved. Students should also be mindful that when
using their personal social media account(s), they will be held to the same standards as their inperson conduct. Conduct on social media is a reflection on the student as associated with OSUCHS as well as their image as a professional in the medical community. Students may refer to the
following link for social media behavior tips/guidelines:
http://mashable.com/2012/09/04/students-social-media-warnings/ . The OSUCHS Social Media
Policy can be found at: http://www.healthsciences.okstate.edu/com/academics/OSUCHS%20Social%20Media%20Policy-2015.pdf
9. Computer Hardware and Software Issues. If at anytime, even before orientation and class
beginning, you have questions or experience problems or need information regarding University
technology (hardware and software), please contact the following individuals or groups:
Computer Hardware Issues
Contact the IT Helpdesk at Tulsa.Helpdesk@okstate.edu or 918-594-8200
Software Issues or Classroom Technologies
Contact Brandy Close at brandy.close@okstate.edu or 918-561-8473
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VII. COURSE DIRECTOR

Bill Meek, Ph.D.
Professor of Anatomy & Cell Biology
Room A350, Email Dr. Meek for his office hours
918-561-8258
bill.meek@okstate.edu
VIII. COURSE COORDINATORS:
Nedra Wilson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Anatomy & Cell Biology
Room E446, Email Dr. Wilson for her office hours
918-561-8256
nedra.wilson@okstate.edu
Angela Bacon, M.S.
Director of Student Services
918-561-8312
angela.bacon@okstate.edu
Brandy Close, M.Ed.
Director of Curricular Affairs, Instructional Design, and Academic Technologies
918-561-8473 (w), 918-237-2571 (c)
brandy.close@okstate.edu

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