Planning and delivering a block takes coordination across the WWAMI regions and several staff teams. There are several regularly scheduled block prep meetings that assist in coordinating all the teams involved in planning for the block including the block workgroup, the technology team, and the student block partners. There are also 3 required milestone meetings that keep the regional teams and Deans informed about the plan for the block. Finally there is a regular block, thread, and Theme (BTT) directors meeting to discuss best practices and cross block consistency.

Block Prep Meetings

Work Group Meetings

Workgroup meetings take place regularly in the 9 months prior to the block start and are where the block directors, regional site leads, and other faculty content experts plan the block session schedule, content, and exams. The frequency of these meetings is at the discretion of the block directors. They are useful in making sure that the regions know the block plan and participate in content and exam creation. 

Responsibilities: 

Block Directors determine the frequency and agenda for workgroup meetings and communicate with the Block Admin to get them scheduled. 

Block Admins schedule, record, and take notes at these meetings. 

Technology Coordination Meeting

The technology coordination meeting is scheduled by the SOM Alternative Learning Technologies (SOMALT) team. SOMALT supports faculty and staff using technologies for teaching and learning at UWSOM. 

The meeting occurs about 4 months before the start of the block. The goal of this meeting is to review all the block’s technology needs (e.g., video creation, zoom sessions, Canvas creation, Pressbook creation, session recordings, WWAMI wide reviews, in-class interactive technologies, etc.) and plan for their completion. SOMALT also attends the milestone meetings to follow up on the progress of these learning technology plans.

Responsibilities: 

Block Directors come to the meeting prepared with a plan for their technology needs (e.g., what videos they will need support in recording, what sessions will be made available live across the region via Zoom, etc.). 

Block Admins attend the meeting to offer their administrative perspective.

Working With Threads and Themes

There are three Threads (Pharmacology, Anatomy and Embryology, and Pathology/Histology) and a Themes longitudinal curriculum (Health Equity, Health Systems Science, Health of Populations, And Ethics) that are incorporated into each Block throughout the entire Foundations curriculum. The Threads and Themes faculty groups have Directors that, like Block Directors, are responsible for the content of their thread’s curriculum in each block.

In the course preparation phase before the Lockdown meeting, Block Directors should meet with the Thread and Themes directors to map out the Thread and Theme content in the block (including session titles, schedule, SLOs, SLO to BLO mapping, and assessment (including exam question development) and make sure it is congruent with the block curricula. The UWSOM Foundations Directory lists all Thread, Theme, and Block Directors.

As part of the normal block exams, students will be tested on questions tagged for each thread. While these questions contribute to the block grade, they also count toward the cumulative thread score for each term. Students demonstrate competency in threads by achieving a score of 70% or more on these questions over the duration of the term. Even if a student’s performance in a thread dips below 70% for a particular block, if their average score at the end of the term is above 70%, they are considered to have achieved competency.

Themes content is assessed as part of the Block assessment.

Responsibilities: 

Block Directors work with the Thread and Theme Directors to incorporate the Thread and Theme content into the Block schedule and into the assessment. 

Block Admins set up meetings as directed by the Block Directors.

Student Block Partners (SBPs)

Every year, each block is paired with two Student Block Partners (SBPs) from across WWAMI who can give feedback and advise the block faculty on behalf of the students. Block Directors are encouraged to meet with the SBPs before, during, and after the block to discuss what is working and what could be improved.

SBPs provide an end of block report that becomes part of the Lessons Learned process. Block Directors respond to the report and feedback and send this response to the entire class. 

Responsibilities: 

Block Directors are encouraged to develop a relationship with their SBPs, meet with them regularly, and utilize their input to improve the block. They  must respond to the SBP end of block report in an email to the student class at the end of the Lessons Learned process. 

Block Admins can help the Block Directors find out who their SBPs are before the block begins and can help distribute the SBP report response to the class. 

Milestone Meetings (Required)

Every year, each block has three required milestone meetings before the start of the block.

Responsibilities:

Block Directors complete all the documents needed for the meeting (e.g., Schedule and Assessment Plan) and lead the discussions during the meetings. 

Block Admins:

• Poll participants for availability and schedule all three meetings
• Prepare and share the agendas and other vital documents (e.g., Schedule, Assessment Plan)
• Guide participants through the agenda items
• Record the meetings and take notes

Lockdown

Lockdown occurs 3-4 months out from the block’s start and is where the block schedule, session titles, SLOs, and Assessment Plan are confirmed. After the Lockdown meeting is concluded, any changes must go through the Change Management process. Content creation and exam question creation are planned here as well. (Lockdown agenda template).

2-Month

2-month check-in occurs 2 months prior to the start of the block. In this meeting, faculty and staff review:

• • Progress on content creation (due in 3 weeks)
  • Technology (Video creation, Canvas, etc.) needs
  • Assessment & exam creation
  • Deadlines
  • Regional needs (faculty, patients…)

(2-month check-in agenda template)

1-Month

1-month check-in occurs 1 month prior to the start of the block. This meeting includes a final check-in on all block planning and addresses any gaps. Skull sessions and post-assessment meetings, which occur during the block, should also be scheduled at this time. (1-month check-in agenda template)

Block Thread and Theme (BTT) Leader’s Meeting

The Block, Thread, and Theme (BTT) Leaders’ meeting is a monthly meeting, held over Zoom at 1pm PT on the third Tuesday of the month (except in July and August). All Block Directors meet with each other and the Dean of Basic Sciences to discuss important topics, review processes, and exchange best practices. Upon becoming a Block Director, you will be added to the meeting invites and the BTT listserv. 

Responsibilities:  

Block Directors attend the BTT meeting throughout the academic year and occasionally present, as assigned, on the work in their block. 

Block Admins: none