Describes a survey of 20 distinguished clinical medical teachers concerning episodes of instructional failure that subsequently led to improvement in teaching. Identifies eight common failure types associated with each phase of teaching (planning, teaching, reflection) and respondents' suggestions for improvement for each. Notes that the…

A 1988 survey of 122 senior medical students and 60 residents at the University of Washington indicated the most important characteristics of ambulatory care teachers were active involvement of learners, promotion of learner autonomy, and demonstration of patient care skills. Environmental factors were not influential. (Author/MSE)