i. DIALOGUE
The method of Dialogue developed by Quantum Physicist David Bohm has proven itself to be an effective way to “Ensure good communication” and “Activate students” as well as develop collaboration and a holistic model for inquiry. Dialogue facilitates coming to the image totality in case discussions. See www.david-bohm.net/dialogue.
ii. SELF EVALUATION AS A TEACHING TOOL
Asking students to review the list of professional homeopathic competencies and scoring themselves on a regular basis helps them to monitor their learning, set their study goals, and gage their understanding. This review of professional competencies helps them to integrate what it means to be a homeopath – specifically. As a graduate, they will have acquired the essential skill of evaluating their own performance in each case, and the ability to monitor the need for post graduate professional training or the need to refer a case.
iii. CASE TAKING AS AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO HOMEOPATHY
Video and live cases shown from the very beginning of the training can be used as a vehicle to integrate all aspects of homeopathic training (materia medica, case taking, etc.).
Remedies from the Materia Medica are always presented within the context of a real case; Parts of video-taped successful real-life cases which relate to the subject matter at hand, are shown as examples; Videos and live cases are used in class to model case taking. The video or case is regularly stopped and the students are asked to provide their observations or the next step. In this way, students learn to actively follow a patient and take notes.
iv. DIRECT EXPERIENCE
Students actively participate in practical, supervised exercises involving different aspects of case taking, such as: patient observation, listening, following the patient, self-awareness, questioning, and awareness of the process itself. As students increase their understanding and their capacity these exercises gradually evolve into full case taking.
v. PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
Students are required to see a personal homeopath on a regular basis in order to appreciate the role of the patient, understand the action of remedies, and have the direct experience of case taking.