Research in Medical Education

  Introduction: Recognition of faculty members' educational needs is the major factor to lead the educational system for determining goals and appropriate setting and organization other important factors. Scientifically, the first step for designing and educational planning is to determine individual educational needs that lead to optimize using of available sources. The goal of study was to determine educational needs of Guilan University of medical sciences' faculty members in 2007.

  Methods: This study was a cross-sectional descriptive in which 74 faculty members in Guilan university of medical sciences were involved. Sampling method was random by standard questionnaire from Michigan University. The results were analyzed by SPSS software.

  Findings: Results indicated that faculty members' first preferences include: % 38.5 writing standard lesson plans %26.3 student- centered Education %42.4 OSCE %27 providing computerized slides and %24.3 recognition of using portfolio. They believed that the best time for presenting workshops were end of courses, in spring and on Thursday, also current facilities (%67/6), and educational spaces (%87/8) for applying new teaching methods was inappropriates.

  Conclusion: Faculty members believed that participating in workshop and educational courses had important role in promoting educational abilities and quality of education in university. Fields of educational course include teaching planning, methodologies, standard evaluation methods, educational technology and general skills. It is advised that EDC consider faculty members' educational needs in designing workshops and courses.