Re-envisioning paradigms of education: towards awareness, alignment, and pluralism

In this article we introduce a synthesis of education paradigms, adapted from a multi-disciplinary body of literature and tailored to health professions education (HPE). Each paradigm involves a particular perspective on the purpose of education, the nature of knowledge, what knowledge is valued and included in the curriculum, what it means to learn and how learning is assessed, and the roles of teachers and learners in the learning process. We aim to foster awareness of how these different paradigms look in practice and to illustrate the importance of alignment between teaching, learning and assessment practices with paradigmatic values and assumptions. Finally, we advocate for a pluralistic approach that purposefully and meaningfully integrates paradigms of education, enhancing our ability to drive quality in HPE.

Automated summary

This article introduces a synthesis of education paradigms adapted for health professions education, emphasizing the importance of aligning teaching, learning, and assessment practices with paradigmatic values. Advocating for a pluralistic approach that integrates various education paradigms to enhance the quality of health professions education.