Save Time – Use Free Blog Posts!
As a medical terminology instructor, I would search for ‘a little something’ to make terms more interesting for students or to lighten up my medical terminology class.
Also, I spent time creating material for students to use as extra credit. Keeping up with new terms took time as well.
Perhaps, and most importantly, I searched for activities that might impress upon students the importance of being fluent in the language of medicine before they embarked on a healthcare career.
I imagine you are spending time on these same things. As an instructor, I realized the need for a comprehensive resource to enhance medical terminology courses and therefore developed this medical terminology blog to support students and teachers. The blog posts are free and ready for your use in your medical terminology class. Here is how.
1. Use our New Terms category to keep current on new and emerging terms.
As you know, the language of medicine is ever-changing. In fact, new terms have probably emerged since you assigned the textbook you are now using in class.
Tips for Use
- Link blog posts to your lecture or online materials.
- Assign students to read a blog post and write a report.
- Place the blog post in the course content as reference material.
NOTE: To save time in finding posts related to each body system, look to the right column of this blog. In the blue box featuring the textbook Exploring Medical Language you will see links to blog posts that relate to the body system chapters.
Click on one and begin your search!
Although the Body System Chapters align with Exploring Medical Language, the post will be useful no matter your assigned textbook.
2. Use our Featured Terms category to tell the story of a medical term.
It is often helpful for students to know the origin of a medical term, (a little something to make a term more interesting), or to read more about the term than the definition provided in their textbook.
Tips for Use
- Assign students to read a featured term and write a report and/or give a class presentation
- List the blog post in the course content as reference material
- Link the blog post to your lecture or online content.
3. Use our Games category to add an interactive dynamic to your class.
Crosswords and Quizzes are useful for expanding vocabulary, improving spelling, and reviewing knowledge. The Word Jumble is useful in adding humor to your lecture.
Tips for Use
- Assign quizzes or crosswords for students to earn extra credit.
- Use a crossword or quiz as a class activity to close a lecture.
- Include links to the games in your online student assignment activities.
- Project a Jumble on the screen for students to see as they walk into class. Begin the class with a discussion about the term featured.
4. Use Faculty Tips category for classroom activity ideas
What better way to impress upon students the importance of mastery of medical language in healthcare than to include interviewing a health professional as a class assignment. This is one example of the type of post you will find in this category.
Tips for Use
- Link blog posts to your lecture or online materials
- Place the blog post in the course content as reference material
- Check-in with this category frequently for ideas on teaching and writing course materials
5. Use the Video Category for a visual orientation or a quick recap of a medical term.
The videos featured in this category are mostly YouTube videos. They have been carefully selected for the length of time (3-5 minutes) and as supplemental material for learning medical terms.
Tips for Use
- Link blog posts to your lecture or online materials
- Assign your students to watch a video and present a summary to classmates
- Place the blog post in the course content as reference material
Blog Posts are ready for you to use!
Print them, link to them, use them live in your online or in-person classroom or any other way your imagination takes you.
We hope these ideas on how to use the blogs in your medical terminology class are helpful.
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