Tools to help Block Directors evaluate student performance during the block include monitoring student block grades and monitoring student Thread competency. Block Directors can also refer students to Academic Support and Tutoring.

Viewing Student Block Performance (Grades)

Students’ grades/performance during the block can be viewed by Block Directors (for all regions), by Site leads (for their specific region), by the admins, and by Somtets staff  in the “Grades” tab located in the left-hand menu on each regional Canvas site.  

Responsibilities:  

Block Directors monitor student performance and direct students toward academic support and tutoring or office hours as appropriate. 

Block Admin: none

Thread Competency

The Foundations Phase of the UWSOM Curriculum includes recurring content integrated throughout the basic science blocks, known as threads. The three threads are Anatomy & Embryology (A&E), Pharmacology (Pharm), and Histology & Pathology (Path/Hist). A grade for thread performance does not appear on a student’s transcript, but students do need to demonstrate competency in each thread over each term in order to fulfill their graduation requirements. Student Thread grades can be viewed on the Student Performance Dashboard.

Responsibilities:  

Block Directors direct students struggling with thread competency toward academic support and tutoring or thread faculty as appropriate. 

Block Admin: none 

Academic Support and Tutoring

Academic Support is designed to support the academic growth of medical students and encompasses a broad array of services including learning strategies, test-taking skills, time management, advisement, as well as tutoring.

Learning Specialists meet with students to review their study strategies and schedules, to ensure they are using resources optimally, and to provide support around challenges that impact academic performance. 

Responsibilities:  

Block Directors can direct students to academic support as appropriate. 

Block Admin: none