Facilitate Group Learning

Introduction Why do students enjoy working in small groups? What kinds of small-group exercises can you using in your teaching?

Objectives Select, plan, and facilitate group learning activities Create and facilitate a role play Create and facilitate a case study Create and facilitate a clinical simulation Facilitate a brainstorming session Facilitate a discussion

Group Learning Examples Prepare a role play React to a case study Respond to a clinical simulation Brainstorm Discuss

Advantages of Group Learning Activities #1 Involve all students Allow students to interact, ask questions, and learn from one another Give students opportunities to identify, analyze, and solve problems

Advantages of Group Learning Activities #2 Permit students to express their thoughts, opinions, and concerns Provide opportunities for practice in presenting information to a large group Help students explore and change attitudes

Plan Group Learning Activities Activities should be challenging, interesting and relevant Make sure the activities support the objectives Describe the activity on paper, list the supplies you will need and consider the number of students and the space available

Facilitating Group Learning Activities #1 Describe the activity before dividing the students into small groups Explain how the group should record its decisions Suggest how each group will report back to the larger group

Facilitating Group Learning Activities #2 Instructions to the group (orally and on a flipchart, handout or transparency) usually include: The activity description What the students will do Time limit

Facilitating Group Learning Activities #3 Reporting options include: Oral reports from each group Responses to questions about the activity Role plays developed and presented by students in the small groups Recommendations from each group

Role Play A role play is a learning activity in which students play out roles in a simulated situation that relates to one or more learning objectives.

Role Play Advantages #1 Role plays encourage student participation and stimulate thinking. They motivate students by involving them in a realistic situation. Role plays help students understand another person’s perspective or situation.

Role Play Advantages #2 Role plays can inform, assess, and improve a variety of students’ skills and attitudes (communication and interpersonal skills needed to interview, counsel, and treat patients) Role plays give students opportunities to receive feedback on their performance in a safe setting

Create a Role Play #1 Decide what the students should learn (the objective) Select an appropriate situation Identify the roles

Create a Role Play #2 Determine if the role play will be: Informal – acting it out with little or preparation time Formal – planned in advance with instructions Clinical demonstration – working with anatomic models and simulated patients

Create a Role Play #3 Determine if the students will report the results of their discussion of the role play in writing or orally to the entire group. In some cases, the role plays are done only in small groups. Then one or more groups may present theirs to the large group and/or the teacher will facilitate a discussion focusing on the role plays.

Facilitate a Role Play #1 Explain the nature and purpose of the exercise (the objectives). Define the setting and situation of the role play. Brief the participants on their roles.

Facilitate a Role Play #2 Explain what the other students should observe and what kind of feedback they should give. Provide the students with questions or activities that will help them to focus on the main concepts being presented. Keep the role play brief and to the point.

Facilitate a Role Play #3 Engage students in a followup discussion. Provide feedback, both positive and suggestions for improvement. Summarize what happened in the session, what was learned, and how it applies to the skill being learned.

Sample Role Play Let’s look at Sample 7-1.

Case Study A case study is a learning activity that uses realistic scenarios focusing on a specific issue, topic, or problem. Students typically read, study, and react to the case study individually or in small groups.

Possible Case Study Activities #1 Define the problem in the case study and develop suggestions for solutions. Respond to a clinical situation by suggesting appropriate interventions and discussing them. Evaluate clinical decisions and the process used to make the decision in the case study.

Possible Case Study Activities #2 Identify the possible impact of choices or decisions made in the case study. Analyze the causes of a problem. Identify attitudes that may influence the healthcare providers’ behaviors described in the case study.

Why Case Studies? Focus on real-life problems or situations Develop problem-solving and decision-making skills Strengthen students’ ability to apply information Clarify and expand students’ knowledge Explore and change attitudes

Case Study Advantages Actively involves students and encourages interaction. React to realistic and relevant cases that relate directly to the course and often to future work. Reactions often provide different perspectives and different solutions to problems.

Create a Case Study #1 Decide which objective the case study will help address, and decide what the students should learn from the case study. Identify the topic, issue, or problem on which the students will focus. Ensure that the case study presents a real situation.

Create a Case Study #2 Determine whether the case study will be completed by individuals or in small groups. Provide students with reaction activities that will guide them in completing the case study. Decide whether students will report the results of their work on the case study in writing or orally to the entire group.

Facilitating a Case Study Provide clear directions, including how to complete the case study, how to present the answers, and the time limit or due date. If the students are working in groups, suggest that each group select someone to act as the recorder.

Typical Reaction Exercises Analysis of the problem Responses to case study questions Problem solutions Discussion of the responses Summary of the key points

Sample Case Study Let’s look at Sample 7-2 on Page 7-11.

Clinical Simulation A clinical simulation presents the learner with a carefully planned, simulated patient management situation.

Types of Simulations Written simulations Role play simulations Mediated simulations Physical simulators Live simulated patients

Why Clinical Simulations? Help students practice responding to emergency situations. Help students develop critical thinking skills. Assess students’ ability to integrate knowledge, skills, and attitudes into providing healthcare in a simulated setting.

Clinical Simulation Advantages The same clinical simulation can be used repeatedly until the students master the situation it presents. Time can be shortened or lengthened in a clinical simulation. Clinical simulations can be tailored to specific instructional objectives.

Creating a Clinical Simulation Define the objective of the clinical simulation and the expected outcome. Based on your objectives, prepare a case from your past experience that relates to the learning objectives. Create a patient scenario that includes the problem, the related lab and diagnostic results, and possible outcomes for different interventions.

Present the Case #1 Ask two or three students to prepare a case for presentation from their clinical experience. When it is time to present, have the students share the presenting complaint. Stop them, ask other students what they think the problem or diagnosis could be, and tell them to explain their answers.

Present the Case #2 Allow students to present additional relevant data. Stop, ask if they have changed their views, or what their next steps would be, and why. Continue this process of allowing information to be revealed in steps, and asking and responding to students’ answers.

Conduct a Simulation with Models #1 Set up the area as realistically as possible. Present the initial information about the patient or the situation. A student then responds to that information and identifies what other information is needed.

Conduct a Simulation with Models #2 Continue to provide pieces of information and ask questions of the students. “What would you do next?” “What information would you need now?” “Why did you make that decision?” Provide the student or students with feedback on their responses.

Sample Clinical Simulation Let’s look at the Sample 7-4 on Page 7-22.

Brainstorming Brainstorming is generating a list of ideas, thoughts, or alternative solutions that focus on a specific topic or problem.

Why Brainstorming? Stimulate interest in a topic Encourage broad or creative thinking

Advantages of Brainstorming Allows students to share their ideas without criticism Allows for creative thinking Generates ideas Allows for expressing opinions

Facilitating Brainstorming #1 Share the objective of the brainstorming session. Explain the ground rules before beginning the session. All ideas will be accepted Discussions of suggestions are delayed until after the activity No criticism of suggestions is allowed.

Facilitating Brainstorming #2 State the topic or problem. Clearly state the focus of the brainstorming session. Maintain a written record on a flipchart or writing board of the ideas and suggestions. Provide opportunities for anonymous brainstorming by giving the students cards on which they can write their comments or questions.

Facilitating Brainstorming #3 Involve all of the students and provide positive feedback in order to encourage more input. Review written ideas and suggestions periodically to stimulate additional ideas. Conclude brainstorming by summarizing and reviewing all of the suggestions.

Discussion A discussion is an opportunity for students to share their ideas, thoughts, questions, and answers in a group setting with a facilitator.

Discussions Support Other Methods Conclude a presentation Summarize the main points of a videotape Check students’ understanding of a clinical demonstration Examine alternative solutions to a case study Explore attitudes exhibited during a role play Analyze the results of a brainstorming session

Discussion Advantages Provide a forum to discuss attitudes Emphasize key points Create interest and stimulate thinking about a topic Encourage active participation

Types of Discussions Group discussion that focuses on the learning objectives (planned in advance). General discussion that addresses students’ questions about a learning topic. Panel discussion.

Planning A Discussion Objectives of this discussion? How long should it last? Students have some knowledge/experience with topic? Is there enough time available? Are you prepared to direct or control the discussion?

Facilitating A Discussion #1 State the topic as part of the introduction. Shift the conversation to the students. Allow the group to direct the discussion; act as a referee and intercede only when necessary. Summarize the key points of the discussion periodically.

Facilitating A Discussion #2 Ensure that the discussion stays on the topic. Use the contributions of each student and provide positive reinforcement. Encourage all students to get involved. Ensure that no one student dominates the discussion.

Summary What questions do you have regarding the use of case studies, role plays, clinical simulations, brainstorming and discussions? How can these teaching methods be used where there are large numbers of students?