The Curbsiders Teach #58 To Theory or Not to Theory: that is the (educational) question with Drs. Erick Hung and Jimmy Beck
Aug 27, 2025
Join Dr. Erick Hung, a clinical psychiatry professor at UCSF, and Dr. Jimmy Beck, a pediatrics associate professor at UW, as they navigate educational theory in health professions. They dive into the balance of theory and practice, sharing humorous personal anecdotes and insights on the 'mentor mindset.' Learn about 'desirable difficulties' and how to personalize clinical education for better outcomes. They also offer practical tips to enhance teaching effectiveness while fostering supportive environments for learners.
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Theory As A Roadmap
- Educational theory explains how learning occurs and helps validate teaching approaches.
- Use theory to be systematic and rigorous when designing learning experiences.
From Good Intuition To Evidence
- You can be a great teacher without formal theory by emulating excellent role models.
- Theory helps convert good intuition into repeatable, evidence-based practice.
Introduce Desirable Difficulties
- Intentionally add small, desirable difficulties to learning to improve long-term retention.
- Make learners search and apply answers rather than giving immediate solutions.
