Educator-to-Educator Tips & Strategies
Find out how your peers are making the most of Aquifer cases and teaching tools.
Teaching Perspectives & Pearls Blog
Virtual Peer Teaching with Aquifer
Karen McDonough, MD & Jeanne Cawse Lucas, MD
Using Integrated Illness Scripts: Framing Case-Based Learning Cases
Youngjin Cho, Ph.D., Jess Cunnick, Ph.D., Brian Wilcox, MD, Ph.D., John Szarek, Ph.D.
Using Aquifer Cases Effectively: Perspective of a Third-Year Medical Student
Wafa Nabi, MD Candidate, Class of 2021
Student Experience: Bridging the Gap Between Coursework and Patient Care
Georgia Vasilakis, MD Candidate, Class of 2022
Meeting ARC-PA Standards with Aquifer
Cynthia Booth Lord, MHS, PA-C
Implementing Calibrate Formative Assessment: Advice from an Early Adopter
Anne Walsh, MMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA
Archives: Blogs
Blogs Archive
April 23, 2020 |
AI-Powered Feedback: Enhancing Clinical Reasoning in Medical Education
March 19, 2025 |
At the recent AAMC Conference on Emerging Technologies … Read more
Effective Remediation Strategies for Future Healthcare Heroes
September 3, 2024 |
Effective remediation is essential for maintaining high … Read more
Mastering Summary Statements and SOAP Notes with Aquifer: Essential Skills for Clinical Education
July 29, 2024 |
Effective communication in clinical practice is vital f … Read more
Aquifer Cases Now Include AI-Powered Student Feedback
June 21, 2024 |
Aquifer has introduced an innovative AI-powered feedbac … Read more
Enhancing PA Education: Integrating Aquifer Cases for Palliative and Geriatric Care
February 28, 2024 |
By: Laurel Miller, PA-C | Assistant Professor – Directo … Read more
Elevating Health Professions Education: Deploying the Aquifer Adoption and Use Self-Assessment to Maximize Impact
January 3, 2024 |
By: Joseph Miller, PhD | Curriculum Integration Special … Read more
Implementing Calibrate Formative Assessment: Advice from an Early Adopter
October 19, 2023 |
By: Anne Walsh, MMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA | Clinical Associate … Read more
From Surviving to Thriving: How Coaching for Learning Cultivates Adaptive Expertise
September 20, 2023 |
The pace of change in health care is accelerating, with … Read more
Using Integrated Illness Scripts: Framing Case-Based Learning Cases
February 26, 2023 |
By: Youngjin Cho, Ph.D. (1), Jess Cunnick, Ph.D. (1), B … Read more
Unique Ways to Improve Key Clinical Skills Using Aquifer
January 17, 2023 |
Getting students up to speed in clinic is a common chal … Read more
Meeting COCA Standards with Aquifer
December 9, 2022 |
Students provide consistently high rankings for Aquifer as reported in our five-star rating feedback data, but how and when cases are integrated into the curriculum can have a significant impact on their learning. Find out what themes emerged when we ask students what methods are most effective–and discover practical tips for assigning Aquifer cases based on student feedback.
Meeting ARC-PA Standards with Aquifer
November 15, 2022 |
Students provide consistently high rankings for Aquifer as reported in our five-star rating feedback data, but how and when cases are integrated into the curriculum can have a significant impact on their learning. Find out what themes emerged when we ask students what methods are most effective–and discover practical tips for assigning Aquifer cases based on student feedback.
Teaching Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy with Confidence: Tools for Active Learning
August 23, 2022 |
There are a wide variety of challenges facing both oste … Read more
9 Ways to Teach Pre-clinical Learners with Aquifer Cases
August 18, 2022 |
Aquifer cases are a staple assignment in many clinical … Read more
Meeting LCME Standards with Aquifer
June 30, 2022 |
Students provide consistently high rankings for Aquifer as reported in our five-star rating feedback data, but how and when cases are integrated into the curriculum can have a significant impact on their learning. Find out what themes emerged when we ask students what methods are most effective–and discover practical tips for assigning Aquifer cases based on student feedback.
Flexibility, Standardization & Innovation: The Power of Aquifer’s Curricular Partner Program
March 17, 2022 |
Students provide consistently high rankings for Aquifer as reported in our five-star rating feedback data, but how and when cases are integrated into the curriculum can have a significant impact on their learning. Find out what themes emerged when we ask students what methods are most effective–and discover practical tips for assigning Aquifer cases based on student feedback.
What Students are Saying: Social Determinants of Health Cases
January 11, 2022 |
Students provide consistently high rankings for Aquifer as reported in our five-star rating feedback data, but how and when cases are integrated into the curriculum can have a significant impact on their learning. Find out what themes emerged when we ask students what methods are most effective–and discover practical tips for assigning Aquifer cases based on student feedback.
Improving Student Confidence and Performance with an Engaging Hybrid Clerkship
November 30, 2021 | Curriculum Planning
At Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, we are supporting our fourth-year students with flexible online elective rotations by adapting the model we created during COVID. Our virtual asynchronous electives–built with Aquifer cases and WISE-MD modules and implemented on the fly during lockdown–proved valuable to students, earning positive feedback and course reviews. With a few minor modifications, we are continuing this offering in response to student requests and the wide range of time-consuming requirements in the fourth year.
Start Small: Six Activities to Get Started Integrating Basic Science and Clinical Learning
November 17, 2021 | Integrating Basic Science
WISE-OnCall is used by programs across medical and health professions education to help learners diagnose and manage clinical situations they are likely to encounter on clinical clerkships, advanced sub-internships, and during the transition to residency or practice. Here are some successful integration strategies that we’ve heard from faculty users…
Case Study: Using Aquifer Across the PA Curriculum
September 21, 2021 | Curriculum Planning
Touro University California Physician Assistant Program has been utilizing Aquifer cases since 2019. Originally, the cases were assigned to clinical year students to fill knowledge gaps and remediate rotations. Clinical year students found reviewing concepts in Aquifer cases during the virtual rotation block very valuable and found that cases improved in-person patient encounters.
Flexibility in the Fourth-Year: Extending Virtual Electives
July 22, 2021 | Curriculum Planning
At Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, we are supporting our fourth-year students with flexible online elective rotations by adapting the model we created during COVID. Our virtual asynchronous electives–built with Aquifer cases and WISE-MD modules and implemented on the fly during lockdown–proved valuable to students, earning positive feedback and course reviews. With a few minor modifications, we are continuing this offering in response to student requests and the wide range of time-consuming requirements in the fourth year.
4 Ways to Use Aquifer High Value Care Across Your Curriculum
June 14, 2021 | Clinical Skills, Exploring Our Content
Aquifer High Value Care, a free course available to all … Read more
Using Integrated Illness Scripts: Three Integration Stories
May 27, 2021 | Integrating Basic Science
WISE-OnCall is used by programs across medical and health professions education to help learners diagnose and manage clinical situations they are likely to encounter on clinical clerkships, advanced sub-internships, and during the transition to residency or practice. Here are some successful integration strategies that we’ve heard from faculty users…
Remediation Part 2: Success Stories & Structures
May 12, 2021 | Remediation
We all know that every student will have a slightly different experience in each of their supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs). At our program, we’ve been using Aquifer cases to augment learning, build key communication skills, and supplement clinical experiences to meet ARC-PA standards.
Remediation Part 1: Aquifer Tools & Strategies
April 28, 2021 | Remediation
We all know that every student will have a slightly different experience in each of their supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs). At our program, we’ve been using Aquifer cases to augment learning, build key communication skills, and supplement clinical experiences to meet ARC-PA standards.
Building on Basic Science: Integrated Illness Scripts as a Foundational Boundary-Crossing Curricular Tool
April 13, 2021 | Integrating Basic Science
WISE-OnCall is used by programs across medical and health professions education to help learners diagnose and manage clinical situations they are likely to encounter on clinical clerkships, advanced sub-internships, and during the transition to residency or practice. Here are some successful integration strategies that we’ve heard from faculty users…
6 Ways to Use WISE-OnCall to Prepare Your Students for Clinical Responsibilities
March 29, 2021 | Exploring Our Content
WISE-OnCall is used by programs across medical and health professions education to help learners diagnose and manage clinical situations they are likely to encounter on clinical clerkships, advanced sub-internships, and during the transition to residency or practice. Here are some successful integration strategies that we’ve heard from faculty users…
7 Tools for Flipping Your Classroom with Aquifer
March 1, 2021 | Didactic Sessions
Whether you’re searching for ways to engage students in virtual learning, revamping a stale lecture, or building a new didactic session, flipping the classroom around Aquifer cases is a powerful way to engage your students and help case-based learning stick. Check out different ways that medical educators are integrating Aquifer cases into their pedagogy…
Case Analysis Tool: Feedback for Developing Clinical Reasoning Skills
February 17, 2021 | Assessment
In our 12-week pediatrics course for first-year PA students, we use Aquifer cases as a framework for four of our eight didactic sessions. Each Aquifer session includes an in-class lecture that covers the “don’t miss” diagnoses and difficult concepts for the topic area, followed by the students completing the related Aquifer case and the Aquifer Case Analysis Tool worksheet independently.
5 Ways to Use Aquifer Radiology
February 3, 2021 | Exploring Our Content
The 19 cases in Aquifer Radiology are designed to meet the needs of a wide range of learners and fit into many teaching modalities. Top radiology educators presented their successful strategies for integrating the cases in our recent webinar–find out what they shared…
5 Ways to Use Aquifer Geriatrics
January 4, 2021 | Exploring Our Content
The 27 cases in Aquifer Geriatrics are designed to meet the needs of a wide range of learners and fit into many teaching modalities. Top geriatrics educators from around the country presented their successful strategies for integrating the cases in our recent webinar–find out what they shared…
Teaching About Diagnostic Error: Tools for Creating Space in a Crowded Curriculum
December 14, 2020 | Curriculum Planning, Exploring Our Content
Diagnostic errors are a major source of morbidity and mortality in health care, and there is increasing focus on reducing diagnostic errors in medicine. Fitting these topics into your curriculum can be challenging. To help, I’d like to highlight strategies that educators have found successful using the cases and teaching tools included in Aquifer Diagnostic Excellence.
Lessons Learned from COVID: Trends & Teaching Strategies
November 30, 2020 | Successful Strategies
As the pandemic caused widespread disruption, Aquifer saw an unprecedented jump in the use of our cases–and many innovative ways to use the cases across curricula. Through our grant applications and many ongoing conversations with educators, we were able to identify trends and challenges and gather success stories and strategies to share.
Redesigning Didactics for Gen Z: Engaging Students Around Principles of Geriatrics
November 16, 2020 | Didactic Sessions
As part of my fellowship research project, I rebuilt a didactic session in our Geriatrics rotation using the flipped classroom model, an Aquifer Geriatrics case, and a range of teaching techniques to create an engaging, student-centered session.
Covering ARC-PA Standards & Supporting SCPEs with Aquifer Custom Courses
October 28, 2020 | Exploring Our Content
We all know that every student will have a slightly different experience in each of their supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs). At our program, we’ve been using Aquifer cases to augment learning, build key communication skills, and supplement clinical experiences to meet ARC-PA standards.
Virtual Radiology Clerkship to the Rescue
October 6, 2020 | Exploring Our Content
When the pandemic hit, Harvard Medical School called upon the radiology clerkship committee to provide a virtual clerkship. With one week of preparation, we constructed the 4-week clerkship around the 19 Aquifer Radiology modules and a combination of large group lectures and small group homerooms.
Student Experience: Bridging the Gap Between Coursework and Patient Care
September 17, 2020 | Preparing for Clinic, Student Perspectives
This summer I began my first clinical rotation of my third year in Family Medicine. Due to local COVID-19 precautions, the first half of our rotation was being conducted virtually. During that time, we were encouraged to complete the Aquifer Family Medicine cases. In my experience, the cases were a helpful bridge to patient care from my coursework…
Easing the Transition to Clinic: An Approach to Preparing Students
September 10, 2020 | Preparing for Clinic
This year, COVID added additional challenges to the difficult transition from pre-clinical to clinical/clerkship years by limiting student and faculty interactions during the traditional orientation week. We used Aquifer to create an online Orientation Course for our LIC students that addressed multiple key concepts and facets of the transition to the clinical/clerkship years and allowed our team to focus our limited in-person time on crucial activities.
Using Aquifer Cases Effectively: Perspective of a Third-Year Medical Student
August 24, 2020 | Student Perspectives
Having just completed my third year of medical school, I can confidently say that Aquifer has been highly useful for my learning. I found that its clinical relevance and stepwise learning process combined to make it a one-of-a-kind learning resource. Here are a few of my recommendations to clinical educators so that students of all medical disciplines can get the most out of Aquifer.
Creating Advanced Compare and Contrast Learning with Aquifer Case Modifications
August 12, 2020 | Clinical Skills
In our Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship, students transitioned patient-based clinical learning from real patient to Aquifer cases in late March. These more advanced level clerks required that virtual cases have increased complexity to adequately challenge them and continue building their clinical skills. In order to meet these learning demands, Aquifer cases were introduced as written and then modified in preceptor lead discussions to encourage further clinical reasoning skill development.
Just-in-time Teaching: Connecting Didactics with Clinical Learning for Community Faculty
August 10, 2020 | Engaging Faculty
Our community faculty are busy clinicians in local health systems or private practice. At several points throughout the clerkship, we provide calendars with the didactic and Aquifer case schedule illustrating the clinical information students will cover on campus. We actively encourage preceptors to engage in discussion with their students about what was covered during these activities outside of their offices to the benefit of both students and preceptors.
Providing Formative Feedback Via Summary Statements
July 16, 2020 | Assessment
In many Aquifer cases, students are asked to write out a one to three sentence summary statement that mimics the communication skills they need on rounds, calling consults, and writing patient progress notes. Reviewing a selection of these statements provides an opportunity for faculty to provide meaningful, targeted feedback on clinical reasoning skills.
Filling a Gap: Creating an Elective on Tough Conversations & End of Life Care
July 8, 2020 | Exploring Our Content
Medical schools have always worked hard to provide fourth-year students with clinical knowledge. But far less time is dedicated to effective, delicately nuanced conversations about diagnoses and prognoses with patients and their families. This gap isn’t new, but it’s being exacerbated by the pandemic. In response, we created an online elective dedicated entirely to learning, thinking about, and practicing these difficult communication skills.
Student Perspectives: Practical Tips for Assigning Cases
June 24, 2020 | Student Perspectives, Successful Strategies
Students provide consistently high rankings for Aquifer as reported in our five-star rating feedback data, but how and when cases are integrated into the curriculum can have a significant impact on their learning. Find out what themes emerged when we ask students what methods are most effective–and discover practical tips for assigning Aquifer cases based on student feedback.
Making Connections Throughout the Curriculum
June 10, 2020 | Curriculum Planning
We have integrated Aquifer Geriatrics cases in several different ways throughout our Geriatrics and Healthy Aging Curriculum thread. First-year students have a modified team-based learning session around the Dementia case. In the third year, cases prepare students for oral presentations on rounds…
Returning to Real Patients: Preparing with a Virtual Rotation
June 2, 2020 | Preparing for Clinic
Like everyone else, our school needed to develop alternatives for our new fourth-year students due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With an uncertain return date for students at a range of clinical sites, we decided to build virtual, asynchronous electives that would help prepare students for their clinical rotations, and especially their Acting Internships. We leveraged a range of case-based online modules to cover different disciplines, including Aquifer and WISE.
Virtual Peer Teaching with Aquifer
May 19, 2020 | Clinical Skills
When the COVID 19 pandemic interrupted our first-year medical students’ longitudinal primary care practicum (PCP), we needed to find an alternative that addressed one of its most important goals: helping students to focus the comprehensive history, exam, and documentation that they’re taught in the clinical skills course into a primary care-appropriate presentation and SOAP note. Our thoughts turned quickly to Aquifer, which is used by our internal medicine and pediatrics clerkships. Many Aquifer cases integrate well with the basic science topics our first-year courses, but most seemed a little too advanced for a mid-first year student. At the same time, senior students were eager to find ways to help, so we decided to combine Aquifer cases with ‘virtual’ peer teaching via videoconference.
Adapting to a Shortened Virtual Clerkship
May 12, 2020 | Clinical Skills
Like many others, Boston University moved to a shortened virtual-only clerkship (packed with the full knowledge of our regular in-person 6-week clerkship, of course) in March of 2020. We were able to leverage Aquifer cases as a framework for preceptor discussion sessions and learning activities. The plan outlined below was for our 2-week virtual pediatrics clerkship, but I think the framework could apply to a variety of clerkships or courses transitioning to virtual group discussions.
Hospital Systems Learning: A Virtual Case-based Framework
May 12, 2020 | Preparing for Clinic
For those of us using virtual education time to prep students for eventual return to clinical settings, using an Aquifer case as a framework for an interactive orientation or hospital operations training session will better prepare students and interns to hit the ground running and take full advantage of rotations which, in many cases, have been shortened in duration.
Building a Core Clinical Virtual Integrated Curriculum
May 11, 2020 | Curriculum Planning
Due to curriculum modifications related to the COVID-19 pandemic, our clerkship directors were charged with developing a virtual curriculum to keep students engaged in clinical learning activities while suspended from participation in face-to-face clinical care. Rather than develop a virtual curriculum for each individual clerkship…
Strategies for Flipping the Classroom with Aquifer
May 11, 2020 | Didactic Sessions
Aquifer cases can form the basis for a huge variety of classroom sessions that can be easily adapted for virtual learning. Here are some ideas to spark your creativity if you are designing your own activity. Suggested strategies include…
The Pre-Clinical Pace: Using Cases for Early Learners
April 30, 2020 | Integrating Basic Science
If you want to use Aquifer cases as a clinical correlate in basic sciences classes just assign one case per week (e.g. pediatric case about cystic fibrosis in a genetics course; internal medicine case about anemia in hematology course). Students at UW have told me that this is about the right number of cases because the case content is complicated for early students. Students can work independently through the case and you can use it as context for discussion about how the basic science helps explain the clinical presentation–getting to the “why” behind how patients present as they do!
A High-Value Care Course in the Era of COVID-19
April 27, 2020 | Didactic Sessions
It may seem unusual to design and implement a medical student course focused on high-value care in the middle of a pandemic. As third and fourth-year medical students were pulled from clinical duties at the urging of the AAMC, educators at the University of Virginia School of Medicine developed a two-week online course. The course introduced students to an integrative, comprehensive model of high-value care applicable to future clinical practice.
Reframe: Aquifer Cases as Virtual Standardized Patients
April 23, 2020 | Getting Started
Many educators are wondering how to meaningfully engage their students in distance learning activities that create community and allow them to practice important patient care skills (while not seeing patients). While I have been doing peer-to-peer consults with educators around the country about using Aquifer cases in their curriculum, I stumbled into a helpful reframe that seems to be unlocking people’s creativity: Aquifer cases (yep…more than 170 of them!) are virtual standardized patients. Wait…what?
