
CSMTEP 2023
Overview
For many years, the Office of Faculty Development and Performance (OFDP) has organized the Teaching Excellence Program (TEP), a comprehensive faculty education program within the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM). CSMTEP is designed to help faculty solidify fundamental teaching skills, learn relevant educational theory, and explore more advanced topics related to special areas of interest in medical education. The program aims to enhance teaching skills and provide faculty members with the necessary tools to excel in different educational settings. It focuses on improving teaching performance, offering effective feedback and coaching, developing assessment methods, and enabling faculty members to contribute as educational leaders.
To accommodate participant flexibility, the program has been divided into three modules: TC-1 (Building blocks of education), TC-2 (Teaching in different environments), and TC-3 (Assessment and Feedback). Each module consists of a series of sessions, with half being conducted in-person and the other half online. with a total of 61 hours of instruction. In order to maximize faculty participation, the modules will be offered several times per year. The program offers elective topics for participants to choose from, and successful completion of each module earns a badge of completion.
As the overall program has been condensed, participants should expect up to one hour of preparation time for each program date. Completing all three modules leads to recognition as a "Teaching Excellence Program" graduate.
The modules are not meant to be sequential: participants can start with any of the three modules.
At the end of the program, participants will be able to:
1. Apply skills and educational principles to improve teaching performance in various settings
including lectures, small groups, laboratories and at the bedside
2. Provide effective feedback and coaching to help learners progress along their milestones
3. Develop an approach to assessment of knowledge, skills and attitudes
4. Act as a resource to their department or section by providing targeted faculty development, mentorship and/or taking on administrative leadership positions in education
Module 1
Module 1: Building Blocks of Education
TC-1: Building blocks of education is the first module of OFDP's Teaching Excellence Program (TEP) in CSM.
It aims to enhance teaching performance in various settings and equip participants with skills in providing effective feedback, assessment, and mentorship.
The module covers topics like cognitive psychology, learning theories, clinical reasoning, curriculum design, inclusivity, unconscious bias, anti-racism education, and writing objectives.
Attendance to five out of six sessions, completion of formative quizzes, and a final assignment are required.
Module 1: Building blocks of education
Cognitive Psychology: storage and encoding
Cognitive Psychology: retrieval
Overview of learning theories and education research
Clinical reasoning and diagnostic error
Curriculum design and mapping
Inclusivity and accessibility in education
Anti-racism education
Writing objectives
Quizzes/Assignment/Graduation
Elective: Introduction to preparing a teaching dossier
Module 2: Teaching in Different Environments
TC-2 focuses on teaching in various environments, covering topics like large group teaching, vodcasts, online tips, small group teaching, clinical skills, indigenous health, technical skills, bedside teaching, and simulation teaching.
The program aims to equip faculty members with the skills needed for teaching excellence and enhancing educational development within their departments.
Successful completion of TC-1, along with TC-2 and TC-3, leads to recognition as a graduate of the "Teaching Excellence Program."
Module 2: Teaching in different environments
Large group teaching: presentation skills and innovative teaching techniques (including flip classroom)
Making vodcasts
On-line teaching tips
Innovative teaching in small groups
Teaching clinical skills in a structured environment
Indigenous health and decolonization
Technical skills teaching
Teaching at the bedside
Simulation teaching: theory and practice
Teaching assignment/quizzes/graduation
Applications for Winter Modules both 1 and 2 are now open.
To apply, please submit the following documents to ofdp@ucalgary.ca by no later than October 31, 2023:
1) A Letter of Interest outlining your current career and future plans in medical education.
2) A Curriculum Vitae
3) If you are a resident/fellow, a letter of support from your program director must be included (PLEASE NOTE: first priority will be given to CSM Faculty/Staff. If space permits, consideration will be given to residents and fellows).
Applications should be sent to ofdp@ucalgary.ca and addressed to Dr. Sylvain Coderre, Director of Teacher Development with the subject line: CSMTEP Application of Interest. All applicants will be notified of their application status by the end of May.
Please note:
As spots are limited to 12 participants for each module, not all applicants will be successful.
In determining successful applicants, OFDP will take into account a number of factors, including:
• strength of CV and letter of interest
• current (or promised) faculty position (clinical or full-time)
• emergent teaching needs in the faculty (including MD, PhD, and Vet Medicine)
• alignment with CSM mandates and priorities
• mix of departmental representation
• applicant teaching roles and responsibilities
• mix of participant work and teaching experience
• consideration to applicants who were ranked highly in previous years' TEP applications
Thank you in advance for your interest in education, and our program.
Module 3
Coming Soon..................
TC-3 focuses on developing participants' skills in assessment strategies, providing feedback, and evaluating learners' progress.
Topics covered include assessment in the Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) era, giving verbal and narrative feedback, crucial conversations, implicit bias in assessment, designing multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and OSCE stations, addressing learners in difficulty, technology in education, and final assessment.
Target Audience
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Available to CSM full-time and clinical faculty. Resident applications may be considered, although faculty applications take precedence
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For those who are passionate about teaching
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For those looking to solidify fundamental teaching skills, learn relevant educational theory, and apply advanced knowledge in medical education
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Applicants should already be involved in teaching at the undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate level
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For those planning to pursue medical education as a major component of their careers




Cumming School of Medicine Teaching Excellence Program
What past participants are saying about this program...
"Hi Terri and Syl, I just wanted to say thank you for all your time and effort in putting together CSM TEP. The skills I learned in feedback, teaching methodology, and presenting I will use every day. I wish I had these skills 15-20 years ago. Kudos to you both in putting together such a tremendous program."
- Dr. David Crockford 2021-2022
Thank you to all the staff who have made this program possible, especially Terri and Sylvain! I'm truly grateful for having the opportunity to participate in this program. I've learned a lot and am inspired to keep growing as a teacher and educational leader.
- Dr. Sterling Sparshu
“I love this course, and I have wanted to do it for a while. I feel it is highly valuable, and it is already changing my interactions with learners. I feel lucky to have access to these programs for free!”
-Dr. Rhonda Ness 2020-2021
"I am fascinated as I think of my (teaching) philosophy, did not think that it mattered. It has made me reflect in more detail of why I love teaching so much."
- Dr. Yasmin Majeed 2020-2021
"Since I've started, I think I've been more intentional in my small group teaching in particular."
-Dr. Carolyn Wong 2020-2021