Developing an online resource on effective small group work for MBChB and BTech students a pilot pro

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Developing an online resource on effective small
group work for MBChB and BTech students (a pilot
project)C.Collins - Student Learning Service,
J.Burke - Faculty of Medicine, M.Pollock -
Robert Clark Centre
Introduction
Outcomes
Production

• All students at university participate in forms
  of small group work.
• This aids learning by allowing students to
  collaborate with peers reinforcing and adapting,
  where necessary, their understanding through
  discussion.
• Introduction and guidance on effective group work
  are essential to its success. This project was
  instigated by staff and students of the MBChB
  and BTech programmes.

A 2nd year MBChB student chose to participate as
a research assistant in a 5 week Student Selected
Component and produced a literature review on
group work. The DVD will be available to all
students through their department/faculty and the
library. A streamed version will also be
available on the Web. A Moodle course, under
construction, will include a front page with
information on group work, an interactive
lesson including clips from the DVD, a feedback
exercise and a blog area. The Moodle course will
also have a link to Mahara, the Universitys
chosen PDP tool, so that students may reflect on
their development in group work.
Filming Ethical approval and permissions were
obtained for all students filmed. A variety of
different year groups and types of group work
were filmed in real time. Subjects included
medical students in the context of Problem-Based
Learning and Vocational Studies groups and BTech
students in the context of group project work and
group presentations. Editing A large amount of
footage was obtained, viewed and filtered to
produce appropriate examples of group
work. Editing utilised the expertise of the Media
Unit. Careful consideration was given to the
structure of the DVD, such as diving into
chapters representing different aspects of group
work. This makes the DVD more user-friendly as
students can quickly access the section which
addresses their current needs. Moodle (Online
Learning Environment) A Moodle course is to be
developed to allow interaction with clips from
the DVD and to allow further exploration of group
work.
Aims
To provide flexible and easily-accessible DVD and
online resources on small group work. To enhance
and reinforce guidance on group work already
provided by departments and the Student Learning
Service. To evaluate the resources effectiveness
and roll out to other faculties where requested.

Evaluation

A student focus group will view the DVD and
provide feedback before it is disseminated. The
Moodle lesson will be tested by small group of
students for usability. A feedback form on Moodle
to evaluate students confidence in and
understanding of group work. Focus groups, in
June 2009, to evaluate effectiveness of the whole
project with a view to implementation of any
modifications before final roll out.