Learning by teaching (LbT) has long been recognized as an important learning behavior that constructs meaning based on interactions between learners. This study aimed to explore the meaning of LbT as an important learning activity for future implementation in education. LbT is based on the cultural historical activity theory and sociocultural learning theory, as developed by scholars including Vygotsky. These frameworks value the construction of meaning based on language, and LbT is reported to be effective in constructing meaning. In addition, within the zone of proximal development posited by Vygotsky, learning through interaction between learners improves academic achievement, higher-order thinking, deep learning, and reflective learning. LbT also promotes students' learning presence, and strengthens various competencies such as collaboration and communication skills. Interactive behavior between learners in the form of LbT has been explored as an approach to teaching and learning, with methods including peer learning, peer tutoring, peer teaching, peer mentoring, Lernen durch Lehren, and peer-assisted learning. LbT has also been applied as a learning method. In the future, LbT has boundless potential to improve learning through activities such as flipped learning or online learning based on interactions between learners.

This review of the literature explored the experiences and effects of peer-assisted learning in basic medical education. Peer-assisted learning is most commonly utilized to teach clinical skills (including technical skills) and medical knowledge (76.4%). It has also been used, albeit less frequently, to facilitate small-group discussions including problem-based learning, to promote students' personal and professional development, to provide mentoring for career development and adaptation to school, to give tutoring to at-risk students, and to implement work-based learning in clinical settings. Near-peer learning is a common type. The use of active learning techniques and digital technology has been increasingly reported. Students' leadership had frequently been described. Student tutor training, programs for teaching skills, institutional support, and assessments have been conducted for effective peer-assisted learning. There is considerable positive evidence that peer-assisted learning is effective in teaching simple clinical skills and medical knowledge for tutees. However, its effects on complex skills and knowledge, small-group discussions, personal and professional development, peer mentoring, and work-based learning have rarely been studied. Additionally, little evidence exists regarding whether peer-assisted learning is effective for student tutors. Further research is needed to develop peer-assisted learning programs and to investigate their learning effects on student tutors, small-group discussion facilitation, personal and professional development, peer mentoring, and peer-led work-based learning in the clinical setting in South Korea. Formal programs and system advancement for a student-led learning culture is needed for effective peer-assisted learning.

Residents serve as educators who teach patients, medical students, fellow residents, and other medical personnel while being trained as learners. The purpose of this study was to review the literature on the competencies, perceptions, and educational status of residents as teachers, and to suggest appropriate competencies and curricular components. A literature review was conducted and resident-related institutional homepages were searched. Many countries are developing the educational competencies of residents as teachers and implementing educational programs. Residents most often taught clinical knowledge and clinical skills to patients, medical students, fellow residents, and other medical professionals, and recognized the importance of education, the joy of teaching, and the role of teachers; however, the task of teaching was burdensome. Based on these findings, competencies and educational programs for the resident as teacher are proposed. The competencies consist of the five stages of ACCESS (active learner, clinical teacher, curriculum developer, educational scholar, social communicator, supervisor/leader), and specific teaching content, methods, and assessment methods are suggested to develop these competencies. Educating residents to develop their competencies as teachers is very important as a way to foster lifelong learning skills, help others, and assist in leadership roles.

In light of the need for a tool to evaluate the clinical practice education environment as perceived by medical and nursing students, this study is was conducted to develop and validate the Korean version of the Undergraduate Clinical Education Environment Measure (K-UCEEM) as a measurement tool for managing the clinical practice education climate and quality of education. For validation, the UCEEM consisting of 25 items developed by Pia Strand in 2013 was adapted according to standard translation procedures. The K-UCEEM questionnaire was administered to 73 medical students and 135 nursing students who participated in clinical practice at one medical institution. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted to confirm the validity of the instrument's structure. In order to determine referential validity, the relationships among stresses in clinical practice were examined, and differences in factor scores were compared by gender and college. It was confirmed that the scale of 24 items and five factors showed a moderate model fitness index. The reliability of the factors ranged from 0.786 to 0.867. In addition, all five factors were found to have negative correlations with the clinical practice stress sub-factor, and there were statistically significant differences by gender and college. Through this study, the validity and reliability of the K-UCEEM were verified. In the future, it is expected that further verification of the scale, as well as evaluation and improvement of the clinical practice education environment based on this scale, will occur.

Since the emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), medical schools have experienced a sudden, full-scale transition to online classes. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, it is important to evaluate current educational programs and to assess their implications. This study explored perceptions of online classes and learning behavior among medical students. Twenty preclinical medical students were interviewed in focus groups for 2 months. They generally expressed positive perceptions about online classes, and in particular, positively assessed the ability to lead their individual lifestyles and study in comfortable environments with fewer time and space constraints. Students thought that the online environment provided a fair chance of facilitating positive interactions with the professor and considered communication with the professor to be an important factor only when it was related to the class content or directly helped with their grades and careers. Students also had negative views, such as feeling uncertain when they could not see their peers' learning progress and assess themselves in comparison and feeling social isolation. Learning behaviors have also changed, as students explored their learning styles and adapted to the changed learning environment. Students expanded their learning by using online functions. However, students sometimes abused the online class format by "just playing" the lecture while not paying attention and relying on other students' lecture transcripts to study. The results of this study are hoped to provide a useful foundation for future research on online class-based teaching and learning.

Educational program evaluation can improve the quality of the curriculum, instructional methods, and resources and provide useful data for making educational decisions and policies. Developing and implementing a program evaluation system is essential in competency-based medical education. The purpose of this study was to explore and establish an educational program evaluation system adapting an integrated program evaluation model to promote competency-based medical education. First, an Educational Evaluation Committee was organized, consisting of faculty, staff members, and students. The committee established an integrated program evaluation model, combining Stufflebeam's Context, Input, Process, and Product (CIPP) model of a process-oriented approach and Kirkpatrick's four-level model of an outcome-oriented approach. Kirkpatrick's model was applied to the product evaluation of the CIPP model. The committee then developed evaluation criteria, indicators, and data collection methods according to the components of the CIPP model and the four levels (reaction, learning, behavior, and results) of Kirkpatrick's model, and collected and analyzed data. Finally, the committee reported the results of evaluation to a Medical Education Quality Improvement Committee, and the results were used to improve the curriculum and student selection. To enhance the quality of education, identifying educational deficiencies and developing various elements of education in a balanced way through educational evaluation will be needed. Furthermore, it will be necessary to listen to opinions of various stakeholders, work with all members involved in education, and communicate with decision-makers in the process of educational evaluation.