1. 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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3. 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

4. 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

5. Workshop Materials
Available on the UCSF Continual Professional Learning (CPL) site:  

6. 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

7. Small Groups
Why, When & How?

8. 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: , 1995

9. 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

10. 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:

11. 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.

12. 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

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

14. 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

15. 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)

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

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

18. 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

19. 5. Action Plan and Evaluation
Please complete your Action Plan and the workshop Evaluation at :

20. Small Group Teaching Workshop
All workshop handouts and “Small Group Facilitation How & Why” complete version are available at:
Thank You!!