Special Study Option in Community Learning - Teaching Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation to School Children

by Maureen Kelly
Mary This Special Study Module Option (SSM) centres around medical students teaching school children how to perform Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). A pilot was conducted in March 2008 which demonstrated that it is both practical and feasible to teach CPR to school children. Last year saw the programme run as a fully accredited SSM for the first time. In the first two weeks students are introduced to the concept of the SSM and have a workshop exploring the issues around Community Learning. Weeks 3 and 4 are devoted to revising / learning the skill of CPR and learning how to teach a clinical skill. Students then have to liaise with a local national school, organise the teaching session, draw up a lesson plan, resource materials, deliver the session, collate feedback, devise a presentation either a PowerPoint show, a group poster or video log describing the endeavor and write a reflective diary on the value of the experience to them personally. A unique feature of this SSM is that the CPR teaching is delivered through Irish in Irish speaking national schools.

Discipline:	Health Studies
Institution:	National University of Ireland, Galway
Activity:	Service Learning/Community Based Learning

Additional Information

Academic Discipline:	General Practice and Paediatrics
Module Title:	Special Study Module Option in Community Learning – Teaching Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation to School Children
Typical number of students:	19-20
Year(s) of Programme:	1st Year and 2nd Year
Credits (ECTs):	3
Mandatory:	No
Assessment method:	The assessment is two fold: An overall group presentation of the outcome of the SSM and an individual reflective piece on their personal contribution to the overall project: 1. Group Assessment: Presentation / Poster and /or video log of SSM; 2. Individual assessment: Reflective essay on my role in the SSM
First established:	2008
Typical number of hours:	80
Learning outcomes:	At the end of the SSM students will be able to: 1. Demonstrate competency performing CPR; 2. Write and deliver a teaching session to instruct others in the performance of CPR; 3. Illustrate how they delivered the CPR teaching session through the medium of Irish in Irish speaking schools; 4. Detail what they learned from their experience of planning, liaising, organising, managing a teaching session; 5. Through the process of reflection, describe how their individual understanding of civic responsibility and community participation has been affected by the experience of the SSM; 6. Design and deliver a presentation / poster/ video log detailing the experience.
Case study website/link:
Community Partners:	SN na bhForbacha, Presentation National School Galway