[Retrospective analysis of the work of a medical education office].

Background: Training of health care students at universities is a great challenge for Medical Education Offices. Our office made clear and explained the teaching-learning process from the perspective of teachers, programs, and students.

Aim: To report a ten years' analysis of a Medical Education Office (MEO) work, describing the different processes and systematized decisions aimed to improve the quality of the programs and learning results.

[A standardized objective structured clinical examination to assess clinical competencies in medical students].

Background: Outcomes-based education is a trend in medical education and its assessment is one of the main challenges. The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is one of the tools used to assess clinical competencies. Although Chilean medical schools have used OSCEs for 18 years, there is a vast variability in the way these examinations are administered.

[The impact of a self-directed teaching approach on academic performance of medical students].

Background: Students should be encouraged to become reflexive and develop autonomous, lifelong learning habits. Therefore, teachers should focus on learning strategies which stimulate autonomous learning.

Aim: To assess the impact of a self-directed teaching methodology on the academic performance of medical students in cellular biology and biochemistry.

[Evaluation of a teaching training program implemented in a faculty of medicine].

Background: Since 2010, the Faculty of Medicine at Finis Terrae University implemented a training program aiming to train health professionals in effective educational practices.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of training in teachers who are in charge of planning courses, conducting classes and learning assessment.

Material And Methods: Quality of planning, lecture performance and academic performance of students were evaluated in 55 teachers prior and after attending the training course on teaching methodologies and in 47 teachers not attending the course.

[The efficiency of self-regulated learning in the teaching of scientific concepts to health sciences students].

Background: In health sciences, the predominant teaching methodology is traditional and emphasizes conveying knowledge. Nonetheless, new abilities must be taught now. This change shifts the prominence from professor to student and incorporates a concept called self-regulated learning, which involves the professor as a mediator and incorporates guidelines that facilitate learning diverse skills.

[Effects on academic performance of a leveling program in basic sciences in first year medical students].

Background: A significant number of students in health careers do not have the knowledge to approve basic courses. Therefore, educational programs to level off knowledge have been developed.

Aim: To associate the results of a leveling program with the academic performance in cell biology (CB) and biochemistry (BC) of first year medical students.