Learning by Examining One's Being

by Shelly Blake-Plock

Having lunch. Behind me sit a table of med students. They are studying for exams. And they are studying in some of the most interesting ways.

In trying to better understand how the passages in his head connect, one student laid down on the table and poured water down his nose. After nearly drowning, he discussed the experience with his friends.

Later the group took turns pulling on the beard of one of the males in the group trying to figure out why and exactly how it hurt when you pulled on a beard.

Right now, they are examining and trying to explain various splotches, marks, and bruises on their own bodies.

While I don't condone trying to drown yourself in the interest of understanding nasal anatomy, I do think what's going on here is interesting from a teaching and learning perspective. Would love to hear your thoughts.