Facilitating Facilitation: How to Promote Active Learning

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Medical school, especially the preclinical years, involves primarily memorizing and understanding information, while medicine involves synthesizing and applying information in a team-based setting. The Liaison Committee for Medical Education (LCME) includes the need for active learning in its Educational Standards, pushing medical schools to move learning from “remember” and “identify” towards more complex areas such as “apply” and “analyze.” One method is to design active learning small groups and to share responsibility with students for facilitation. Methods This resource is a 90-120 minute session designed to introduce learners to the concept of active learning and effective facilitation techniques and skills. It starts with training a group of near-peer facilitators in how to run the sessions. Learners are provided with reading material and prework in advance and assigned to small groups (15 learners/group). As outlined in the Facilitator's Guide, the session consists of three discussions: (1) a model discussion facilitated by the trained facilitator, (2) a group discussion on active learning that deconstructs the first discussion in order to identify active learning and appropriate facilitation techniques, and (3) a discussion on a second theme facilitated by a group of learner volunteers using what they have just learned Results This session was intended to train learners to facilitate. Following the session, some of the learners had the opportunity to facilitate a small group session in a medical decision making course: 88% of learners agreed or strongly agreed that they had enough preparation on facilitation skills to effectively facilitate (n = 17). Faculty comments consistently praised the facilitators for successfully engaging their peers and guiding discussion. Discussion The session itself received positive feedback from learners, with specific praise for the book chosen, group facilitators, and opportunity to preview small group expectations and experiences for the year. This session was run as a required workshop for all incoming first-year medical students.

Keywords

• Small Group
• Interactive
• Facilitation
• Problem-Based Learning
• Medical Ethics
• Case Discussion