MedEdPORTAL (Nov 2011)
Innovative Poster Session Design: Deepening Interactions and Increasing Exchanges
Abstract
Abstract Poster sessions in congresses are usually designed to present a huge number of posters, and presenters generally have little time to interact with the audience. Working with smaller groups in training programs provides opportunities to design poster presentations that enable participants to present their work and to create opportunities for exchange in a deeper way than the usual format. This module includes a poster session design that has been used in a fellowship program focused on medical education and research. A group of 16 fellows who were selected based on intervention projects in the curriculum of their own schools, worked together both in a residential session, and in an 11-month-long distance-learning session. Every fellow implemented their project and returned to present their achievements in a poster session when they meet the new group of fellows who were starting the fellowship. After the poster presentation the fellows discussed the next steps of the project and completed another 11-month distance-learning session. The poster presentation is a unique opportunity for the fellows who are finishing the residential session to see similar projects, find opportunities to collaborate, and solicit help in their projects. As part of the evaluation process of this educational design, we have used a feedback questionnaire completed by fellows and guests. The following data show results collected from 186 fellows based at institutes in the US, Brazil, India and South Africa. The survey uses a 7-point Likert-type scale for the following questions/statements: (1) “I was engaged throughout this session.” (Strongly or very strongly agree = 78.1% among the 151 responding fellows), (2) “My knowledge and/or skills increased as a result of this session.” (Strongly or very strongly agree = 74.0% among the 154 responding fellows), (3) “What was BEST about this session?” From 122 comments made, the major themes were: the educational process itself (over 80% of the comments related to this theme); building appreciative community of practice; individual professional development; and the interchange of information and ideas.
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