9-9
SELF-TESTING BY STUDENTS AND HEALTH WORKERS
Learning is, or should be, a continual process—not just something that begins and
ends in a training course. To work effectively, health workers need to keep studying
and learning on their own once the course is over. So it helps if they gain experience
in independent study and self-testing during their training. They also need to know
how and where to get the books and tools for continued independent study.
Programmed learning
WARNING: Be careful when you
select textbooks for programmed
One approach to independent study is called
programmed learning. Special books take the
student step by step through the subject matter.
They ask questions to let the student know
learning. Many are
poorly prepared or
‘talk down’ to the
student.
how well he or she has learned or understood
the material. The books are designed so that students can test themselves
before looking at the answers.
Answers may be located at the edge
of the page. The student can cover them
with a strip of cardboard or paper until he
has answered the questions (in his mind
or in writing). Then he lowers the strip to
check the answers. If he has answered
right, he goes ahead to a new section.
If he answered wrong, he is guided
through a review until he can answer
correctly. In this way, each person moves
ahead at his own pace.
Answers
are
under
this
strip.
Separate learning guides
Some books on health care, although not written for programmed learning, have
accompanying ‘learning guides’ to help students with independent study and self-
testing.
An outstanding example is the learning guide to be used with Maurice King’s
handbook, Primary Child Care.* Carefully designed test questions have been
prepared for use with each part of the book. Most of these multiple choice
questions present the subject matter in lifelike, problem-solving situations.
Magic answer sheets: To help health workers with self-testing, Maurice has
designed an answer sheet that corrects itself! A simple kit contains the equipment
needed for preparing these sheets. It includes a stencil for copying answer sheets,
a plastic overlay with holes that line up with the right answers, and 2 packets of
chemicals.
*The Handbook (Book One), the Teaching Guide (Book Two), and an answer sheet kit are available through
TALC (see p. Back-3)