Text books are a typical, but important teaching tool. The use of text books in class allows students to read and review new information and process it before hearing your lecture. It is also a good source for students to refer to when they are completing a practicum or are new in the field. Text books are valuable sources of information and can provide much more content than a teacher usually teaches.
Visual aids such as PowerPoints, charts and graphs can be created by the teacher to present different skills needed to perform a physical assessment. Visuals are especially useful when teaching students how to read lab work, how to fill out a patient's chart correctly and how to fill out client history information.
Games make learning fun for students of all ages. You can create a game by using an old game board or making your own. Make a set of questions cards with questions such as "Name one non-health related piece of information you will have to collect from a patient during an assessment" or "What are some factors you may have to consider when assessing someone's emotional health?" The students can take turns rolling the dice and answering questions. If they answer correctly, they can move their game piece.
Dummies and dolls can be used to role play a physical assessment. Students can practice taking vital signs, listening to the chest and performing other hands-on aspects of the exam. Other students can role play with each other, demonstrating proper listening and questioning skills needed during an assessment and proper interaction with a patient.