Facilitating Learning – Part II Facilitating Learning – Part II

• By : Dr Malik ZabenBy : Dr Malik Zaben MD, PhD, MRCSMD, PhD, MRCS

Learning in small groupsLearning in small groups

DefinitionDefinition

Learners work together in a group, Learners work together in a group, interacting with each others to achieve interacting with each others to achieve common learning goalscommon learning goals

Role of small group teachingRole of small group teaching

•Development of social and interpersonal Development of social and interpersonal skills and communication skillsskills and communication skills

•The ability of student to work as a member The ability of student to work as a member of a teamof a team

•Engagement on problems solvingEngagement on problems solving• Innovative thinkingInnovative thinking•Deep learning Deep learning

Advantages Advantages

•Embraces the FAIR principlesEmbraces the FAIR principles•Engaging and motivating Engaging and motivating •Learning from others Learning from others

Problems with small Grp learningProblems with small Grp learning

•Experience the facilitator roleExperience the facilitator role•Difficult to manage Difficult to manage •The need for roomsThe need for rooms•Time requiring Time requiring

Planning the structure of small Planning the structure of small group teachinggroup teaching

Planning the structure of small Planning the structure of small group teachinggroup teaching

Techniques usedTechniques used

•BrainstormingBrainstorming•SnowballingSnowballing•role-playingrole-playing• Journal clubJournal club•Tutorial/seminarTutorial/seminar•Problem-based Problem-based

learninglearning•Clinical teaching Clinical teaching

The role of the teacherThe role of the teacher

•Chair personChair person•ConsultantConsultant•ObserverObserver•Devil’s advocateDevil’s advocate•counselorcounselor

Implementing small group Implementing small group workwork

Before small group activityBefore small group activity•Decide your approachDecide your approach•Determine the number of students and the Determine the number of students and the

compositioncomposition•Arrange the venue for the group teachingArrange the venue for the group teaching•Create the right learning environmentCreate the right learning environment•Specify the learning outcomesSpecify the learning outcomes•Plan the necessary resourcesPlan the necessary resources•Brief the students in advanceBrief the students in advance

During a small group activityDuring a small group activity•Members should introduce themselvesMembers should introduce themselves•Review the learning outcomesReview the learning outcomes•Create a positive atmosphereCreate a positive atmosphere•Focus the group on the taskFocus the group on the task•Avoid being the centre or the focusAvoid being the centre or the focus•Keep the discussion at the appropriate levelKeep the discussion at the appropriate level•Tackle the problems in the group Tackle the problems in the group •Summarize towards the endSummarize towards the end

After the small group activityAfter the small group activity

•Support any follow up actionsSupport any follow up actions•Plan any further sessions if not neededPlan any further sessions if not needed•Complete attendance/ evaluation sheetsComplete attendance/ evaluation sheets•Students feedback Students feedback

Take home messageTake home message

•The advantages of small group teaching The advantages of small group teaching outweigh the problems that can ariseoutweigh the problems that can arise

•Conducted appropriately, small group Conducted appropriately, small group sessions can be successful.sessions can be successful.

•The teacher role is a facilitator The teacher role is a facilitator