Educational Theories and Techniques for Genetic Counselors

Educational Theories and Techniques for Genetic Counselors provides an overview of central aspects of effective education by and for genetic counselors, beginning with insights from the general and genetic counseling education literature and moving through a survey of the structure and function of genetic counselor education in North America. In the opening two sections, Bonnie Baty and Claire Davis take a critical look at genetic counseling graduate programs, the contextual factors that shape the way education is offered, recruitment, admissions, and student support practices, the instructional framework and its components and teaching techniques, as well as intentional efforts to integrate these, the evaluative procedures for student learning, and processes of ongoing program evolution. The third section covers the continuous and increasingly self-directed learning that genetic counselors employ throughout their careers to sustain and expand their competence. The book concludes by considering genetic counselors' roles as educators of others, including their colleagues, clients, and communities, because education is an essential competency in all genetic counseling settings. Throughout the book, educational theories are coupled with practical techniques for designing and delivering education programs, and readers are invited to apply the book's content to their own educational experiences through a series of thought-provoking reflective questions and 76 practice-based examples from contributors across North America.