UCSF Educational Skills Workshop Small Group Teaching Katherine M. Hyland, PhD Marieke Kruidering-Hall, PhD UCSF Center for Faculty Educators Haile T. Debas Academy of Medical Educators

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Objectives Discuss advantages and challenges of using small group discussions as an instructional strategy and the rationale that supports small group learning Identify characteristics of effective group discussions Describe the roles and responsibilities of a small group facilitator Identify facilitator and learner behaviors that promote effective learning in a small group, based on video clips and group discussion

Introductions Name/Department Type of SG teaching you are/will be doing Challenges you’ve experienced in small group teaching What you’d like to get out of this workshop In pairs or groups of 4

Workshop Materials Available on the UCSF Continual Professional Learning (CPL) site:  http://tiny.ucsf.edu/FDXSG 

Small Group Teaching: Agenda Welcome, Introductions, Overview Rationale for Small Group Learning Small Group Learning: How and Why Brainstorm Advantages & Challenges Videos: Observe & Discuss Facilitation Techniques & Group Dynamics Generate list of Best Practices Wrap up Action Plan & Evaluation

Small Groups Why, When & How?

WHY: Rationale behind SG instruction Connecting conceptions of learning to instructional practices Theories of Learning Behavioral Cognitive Social Additive to our understanding of process learning Irby DM, Acad. Med. 70: 898-931, 1995

Conclusion Research on learning provides us with three different lenses on how learners (students, residents) learn Each lens provides additive recommendations to enhance learning Allow learner to Construct their own understanding based on their prior knowledge, experiences, skills, attitudes, and beliefs Follow a learning cycle of exploration, concept formation, and application Discuss and interact with others Reflect on progress and assess performance

Active Learning in Small Groups helps students progress through stages of learning Behavior Does Shows How Cognition Knows How Knows Miller’s Pyramid Liz Armstrong, Harvard Medical International, & Crossley J, Humphries G, Jolly B. “Assessing Health Professionals” Med Educ 2002; 36:800-804.

WHEN to use small groups Choice of any Educational Method Step 1: Determine goals and measurable outcomes of curriculum Step 2: Choose appropriate educational strategies: Content & Methods Step 3: Maintain congruence between objectives and method Kern et al., From curriculum development for medical education: a six step approach.

Psychomotor objective Think about your course/ teaching Cognitive objective (Knowledge) Affective objective (Attitude) Psychomotor objective (Skill) Respond respectfully to parents of child who refuse vaccination Encourage patient to see value of nicotine replacement to help him/her stop smoking Work in a team Explain Science to patients & family to team Know Pharmacology Biochemistry Lecture: yes Small grp: yes Lecture: NO Small grp: yes Lecture: NO Small grp: yes

Factors to consider when designing small groups in your curriculum Small Groups: HOW Factors to consider when designing small groups in your curriculum

Factors for Success Content: Preparation: Faculty development: Right amount, right level, clear objectives Preparation: Learners need to have knowledge to apply (from lectures, readings) Learners need to be informed and made excited about rationale of small groups Faculty development: “new skills” need to be learned

Factors for Success Timing: Placement in curriculum Allocation of time in group Quality control: Content prep & observation across small groups Culture/ Firm Attendance policy: Basis for discussion is learning in the group, absent students make peers miss out on valuable contribution(s)

Factors for Success Resources Rooms, Faculty and Administrative help Assessment /credit Be explicit: participation, preparation, helping others, content knowledge, etc.

Summary Why: When: How: Learning theories provide rationale for SG Based on objectives & expectations How: Factors for success

2. Small Group Facilitation: How and Why? Groups of ~4 : Brainstrom Advantages and Challenges of SG teaching (15’) (use handout) Reconvene each group share 1 advantage & 1 challenge Observe & Discuss video clips Generate list of Best Practices

5. Action Plan and Evaluation Please complete your Action Plan and the workshop Evaluation at : http://tiny.ucsf.edu/FDXSG 

Small Group Teaching Workshop All workshop handouts and “Small Group Facilitation How & Why” complete version are available at: http://tiny.ucsf.edu/FDXSG  Thank You!!