A Team-based Learning Guide for Faculty in the Health Professions

About the Book

Team-Based Learning (TBL) is a well-defined pedagogy that combines individual pre-class guided learning with small group in-class active learning. TBL emphasizes the importance of individual accountability, team-work, critical thinking, and the application of basic, fundamental concepts in solving real world problems. The role of the instructor is to clearly articulate the learning outcomes and objectives, create challenging problems for students to solve, and probe their reasoning in reaching conclusions. The purpose of this guide is to provide faculty with a concise set of instructions on how to create a course built on a TBL frame. Using the backward design method, faculty will be guided through the process of first developing learning outcomes, then identifying fundamental course concepts and defining specific learning objectives, followed by generating guided learning materials, and finally creating robust instruments for assessing student learning.

About the Author

Dr. David Hawkins is Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Pharmacy at the California Health Sciences University and President of the Higher Learning Company.  He received his doctorate degree in pharmacy from the University of Michigan and clinical residency training at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor.

Dr. Hawkins has served nearly 40 years as a professor in both pharmacy and medical schools in Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, and California.   His research and scholarly activities have led to more than 100 publications in the pharmacy and medical literature and 200 scientific and professional presentations at national and international meetings. His professional expertise includes creating new academic programs, designing team-based learning curricula, and developing and assessing critical thinking skills and student learning outcomes.