Table 4.

Tips for Establishing a Remote Pathology Elective.*

Maximize digital possibilities: The cornerstone of our remote elective is live-streamed digital sign-out sessions; this can be achieved either with digital slides and screen-sharing or from cameras capturing glass slides on the microscope. Students should be welcomed and encouraged to be active participants.

Build in flexibility and adaptation to ensure equity in the virtual space: Normalize that educational interruptions commonly occur when learning remotely including difficulties with internet connectivity and use of video, extenuating life circumstances, and learning differences. Allow multiple avenues for students to fulfill their learning experience.

Encourage human connection: Establish an expectation for residents and attending physicians to have video cameras turned on during clinical sign-out to facilitate communication and an interactive learning environment. Build in optional social sessions to substitute for the normal learning that happens in casual conversations during an in-person elective.

Establish community: Provide a live orientation session to establish group norms, to give a sense of place and to improve comfort levels in the remote learning environment. A synchronous end-of-course wrap-up session to provide a sense of completion is highly recommended.

Increase access to course leadership: Be available to students through multiple channels (eg, office hours, social media, email), especially until the remote learning course is well-established and participants are comfortable with the use of remote technology. Students notice and appreciate the extra concern from course facilitators.

* These best practice recommendations are based on our experiences in the UCSF Department of Pathology.