Microburst teaching and learning

Amidst changes in the health care field with requirements for increased eff iciency and limited time for teaching, there is a need for a teaching-learn ing model which maximizes the learning process and is exciting, fun, and mo tivating for both teacher and learner Microburst Teaching and Learning is o ne strategy for combining various teaching styles and methods in 'bursts' w ith different learning styles to enhance the learning process. The model ac commodates adult learning theory, adult attention span, learner motivation, the variety of learning styles found in learners, and the need for efficie ncy. Preliminary reactions to the Microburst Model indicate its appeal and motivating nature as a useful teaching-learning model. The next steps are t o more critically evaluate the efficacy of the model for a broader range of clinical preceptors and to examine the variety of specific teaching strate gies to determine which methods work best in specific settings. Because the re are many potential teaching methods and teaching styles from which medic al teachers can choose, a companion article outlining these specific method s and styles is currently in preparation. We anticipate the article's publi cation within the next year.