Flexibility

On Flexibility

Flexibility—it’s a concept I think we all subconsciously realize is essential for effective teaching, but these past few days here in Xela have really driven the point home, and pushed us to put it into practice. Whether it’s attempting to communicate (for me, anyway) in my kindergarten-level Spanglish, or adapting curriculum on the fly based on cultural or national differences in practice, I have been much more aware of our educational choices.  How we manage our time, what content to include or discard, how to structure group sessions—all of these become deliberate decisions as opposed to rote protocol. It’s an invaluable (and perhaps too rare) opportunity to come at teaching from a fresh perspective and consider ways in which we can improve our own skills. 

For example, during the practical examination yesterday, we found that many of the learners consistently forgot to consider anesthesia/pain control when preparing for operative vaginal delivery.  As it happens, regional anesthesia is not routinely used in labor here, in part because there is insufficient funding for this in the public hospitals—no wonder, then, that this isn’t something that the learners would normally think about.  Serendipitously, we are teaching another ALSO Provider Course tomorrow, so we’ll have the chance to make modifications based on what we have learned from our students. It’s been such fun to be surrounded by so many enthusiastic and talented educators—just the process of debriefing each day and brainstorming ways to improve is like a little master course in teaching and course planning.

I’ve also been impressed by the flexibility of our learners here. They have graciously and patiently allowed us to participate in the teaching of these courses, even when it means that the lectures run longer due to the translation process. Many of the residents have attended the course after 36-hour calls; most of them have had to round at their hospitals before arriving at the course each morning, and some have to return to the hospital afterward in the evenings. None have complained that we’ve asked them memorize lengthy English-based mnemonics—one in particular for vacuum deliveries, which few of them have ever seen or done due to lack of access to the equipment.  Instead, they have been curious, involved, and active participants, which makes it all the more exciting to have so many of them attend the Instructor Course and become the teachers for future generations of learners.

Now if only we could all get some more flexibility in our schedules to be able to have these kinds of experiences more often…!

--Candace Pau

Candace and Sarah M share a lively moment

 Allison engages learners practicing hands-on skills

 Audra is demonstrating suprapubic pressure

Active teaching! by Isabella 

 The students share sweet camaraderie

Dr. Maria Mercedes Ancheta Gonzalez hard at work--she is a passionate visionary with a busy OB practice!  She has made us feel very welcome, and it's a privilege to get to know her.

 As Candace alluded to in her blog post, vacuums are not readily available in most Guatemalan hospitals.  Still, some obstetricians have access to them, and ALL the students are interested in learning the indications and proper way to apply them.  With decades of experience, Sarah M demonstrated very effectively.

 I'll let Audra tell you why she's cracking up.

After a full morning, we took an hour "walk about." These photos are a brief glimpse of the people and colors we saw--hard to capture scents, but imagine bustling city streets with cars, buses, pedestrians, and motorcycles, the smells of fresh tacos and empanadas...

Yes, we purchased our fair share of fruit and vegetables!

And...

 Allison, in her healthy glow, got a papoose/colorful carrier for baby #3.

While we ooh'ed and aah'ed over the colorful fabrics stacked just so... 

 We returned in time for this group photo of the ALSO Provider Course 12-13 October.

The slide in the background highlights a "pilot" ALSO lecture from Colombia.

Candace and Audra facilitate the "megadelivery."

We had an excellent course! 

 Although we were pretty exhausted from such a long two days…

We were honored to be invited to dinner at Dra. Silvia's mother's totally cool/modern restaurant that boasted colorful balloons and thematic rooms surrounding a courtyard with a view of an historic church.  We are truly blessed.

And on that celebratory note, there's more to come following today's instructor course--22 participants--amazing interactions, lots of laughter as we hone teaching skills, role play, and provide timely feedback to one another.  

I could not be more thankful for this group of amazing women--fun, smart, creative, resilient. --sj