Small, sustainable, steps to success as a scholar in Health Professions Education - Micro (macro and meta) matters

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this short communication is to examine the journey of scholarship in health professions education (HPE). Methods: We will focus on tangible small steps to start, sustain, and succeed along this journey. Through a proposed innovation in scholarship – micro-scholarship – we will describe how this is similar to and an extension of bite-size or micro-learning, and workplace micro-practice related to just-in-time (JiT) learning settings. Results: We will demonstrate how the small steps for generating and engaging with micro-content can be similarly applied to micro-scholarship. Then, progressive and iterative refinement of output and practice of micro-scholarship can be combined and result in macro-scholarship after cycles of public engagement for final digital or print publication. This stepwise approach creates an accessible, sustainable strategy to achieve success as a scholar in HPE. We will elaborate on micro, macro, and meta matters and celebrate how these small steps encourage and allow broad participation in the creation, critique, and progressive refinement of scholarship. Conclusion: Small, sustainable, steps leads to success as a scholar in Health Professions Education - Micro (macro and meta) matters.

Keywords

• micro-scholarship
• micro-learning
• just-in-time (jit) learning
• community of practice (cop)
• technology
• network effects
• post-publication peer review (pppr)