Medical terminology courses introduce students to the language of science and medicine, covering topics like anatomy, physiology, pathology, diseases, diagnosis, and much more. But the way students prefer to learn this information continues to change as technology evolves.

Today, students expect more from their classroom experience — whether online or in-person — and the following tips will help you meet these student demands.

Medical Terminology Teaching Tips

1. Develop chapter pretests

A chapter pretest assesses students’ knowledge on a particular subject before they dive into the course material on that subject. Pretests help educators develop a sense for where students are at, so they can more effectively customize the course content, and restructure it if needed.

For example, if the majority of students in your class performed well on an anatomy pretest, you may not need to spend as much time on anatomy as other subjects.

Chapter pretests also help your students understand what to expect from the course early on, so there are fewer surprises when the final exam rolls around. At the end of the semester, you can review students’ pretest scores in comparison to their final exam scores to show the progress made throughout the course.

2. Encourage students to pronounce terms out loud in context

Medical terms are usually a mouthful, and can be difficult to pronounce. Learning how to correctly pronounce common medical and scientific terms helps students break down and understand the definitions of the terms, as well as more easily transition into the working world.

Encourage your students to practice pronouncing these terms out loud, in context. More than just assigning a vocabulary list to study, empower your students to use terms the way they might in a real-world scenario like explaining a diagnosis or procedure.

3. Offer multimedia-rich course materials

Technology gives educators the opportunity to connect with students on a deeper level, through a multitude of channels — including online courses with audio and visual assets that help guide students’ learning. Media-rich course materials help educators present information in a more stimulating and interactive way, helping students learn and retain the information better.

At Caduceus, we’re proud to offer media-rich course materials —complete with interactive audio and visual modules, slideshows, and printable, mobile-friendly PDFs and flashcards.

4. Use flashcards for memorization

Flashcards are a fun and interactive way for students to memorize complex medical terminology terms they’ll need to know to pass your class and succeed in the real world. But, don’t forget the value of media-rich course materials. You don’t have to rely on paper note cards and number two pencils to create an effective stack of flashcards. Many online medical terminology courses have flashcards built right in! When you work with an online course materials vendor, make sure versatile, mobile-friendly flashcards are part of their service offering.

5. Let students teach

Flip the script and give your students the chance to teach. Break students into small groups and give each group a list of terms to learn and then teach to the rest of the classroom. This technique not only encourages students to work together, but also gives students the chance to be in the driver’s seat, learning and presenting new information in real-time.

This type of indirect instruction can work in an online setting as well. Students can put together presentations in groups working together online, then connect via Skype or any videoconferencing technology to present their work.

6. Customize the curriculum to student learning

Every student in your classroom learns and retains information in a different way. Each student thrives in a particular environment, and responds better to certain teaching techniques. You can’t satisfy every student’s classroom needs, but with a customizable course curriculum, you can get pretty close.

From presentation to process to evaluation, we make it easy to customize your online medical terminology course throughout the semester, so you can focus less on logistics and more on teaching. Our superior support team is ready around the clock to help you personalize your course materials, and our digital proctoring services help us ensure the integrity of your course.

Transform Your Teaching

Students at universities and colleges everywhere want more from their learning experience. By incorporating the six tips listed above into your teaching approach, you can help meet changing student demands and ensure successful completion of your medical terminology course.

With help and support from an online course materials vendor like Caduceus, you can begin incorporating these practices into your course curriculum and transform the way medical terminology is taught at your institution. Get started with a 30-day free trial.