Small Group TeachingFor PG Dr Vaishali S Mandhana

Small Group Teaching(For PG) Dr. Vaishali S Mandhana Asso. Prof MBBS, DCP, MD.

Introduction • Small group teaching essentially means that the teaching – learning activity takes place in a group that is small in size. • How it differs from “Lectures” – Smaller size of group. – Its utility – Its scope – Its application – And Technique

Introduction • MCI also give more stress on its implementation rather than a Lecture. Because it is a – More interactive session – More Open environment – It can develop higher cognitive skills and social skills in students.

Introduction • Subject may vary but it can be practiced in all the years of medical education. – Pre clinical – Para Clinical – Clinical side • Different forms of Small group teaching are – Dissections – Demonstrations – Practicals – Tutorials – Seminars – Ward and OPD clinics. Etc.

How small Group should be? • Ideally it should contain 3 to 12 members/students. • <3 i. e. 2 members will be called Dyad. • >12 members- Active participation of all the members will not be possible.

Characteristics of an ideal Small Group • 1. Active participation • 2. Face to Face contact • 3. Purposeful Activity

Characteristics of an ideal Small Group • 1. Active participation – Hence 3 -12 members only. – Sharing co-operation and participation of all the members is required. • 2. Face to Face contact • Sitting arrangement in a circular fashion is preferred as it enables – Verbal and non Verbal communication. – Inter action and Exchange of Views. – Sense of Oneness and Open environment.

Characteristics of a Small Group • 3. Purposeful Activity – Pre decided objectives/Goals are given and Group works towards achieving it. Such activity is called as Purposeful activity.

How to form a Group • Formation of a small group will undergo following stages during its development. • Forming • Storming • Norming • Performing.

Role Played by a Student • Role related to the group Task. • Role related to the social activity. • Self Promoting role.

Task related Roles(IOE PCR) • Initiator • Information giver • Information seeker • Orientor • Opinion giver • Opinion seeker • Elaborator • Evaluator • Energizer • Procedural Technician • Recorder • Co-ordinator

Social Role(EFGH SC) • • Encourager Follower Gate keeper Group Observer • Harmonizer • Standard Setter • compromiser

Self Promoting Role(BR DASH) • Such roles are always harmful for group activity. • Dominating • Aggressive • Recognition Seeker • Help Seeker • Self confessor • Blocker

Climate of Small Group • How was the climate in your group? • Supportive ? • Non supportive?

Climate is supportive if Group members are… • Communicating openly and honestly. (Spontaneity) • Giving Opinion and ideas. (Description) • Focusing attention on the task. (Problem orientation) • Understanding others thoughts. (Empathy) • Asking for others opinions. (Equality) • Listening others ideas and opinions. (Provisionalism)

Climate is non-supportive if Group members are… • Imposing their will on others. (Control) • Dominating. (Superiority) • Rigid about ones ideas, not listening to others ideas. (Certainty) • Judging and criticizing others. (Evaluation) • Having their hidden agenda. (Strategy) • Lacking in communication. (Neutrality)

Role of a Teacher • Teacher can be a member of the group and he has to play other roles also like ---– Information giver/ Seeker – Opinion giver / Seeker – Evaluator – He can identify and solve the conflicts in the group earlier.

Advantages of Small Group Teaching what does it offers to students? it provides free, open, interactive enviorment for learning Students can achieve higher cognitive skills like • • • Understanding Analyzing Criticizing Evaluating Synthesizing Students can achieve social skills like • Communication skills • Speaking and listening skills. • Group behavior skills • Inter personal skills • Appreciation skills. • Coping skills.

Advantages of Small Group Teaching • What does it offer to a Teacher? • It frees the teacher from rigid environment of Lectures. • It gives teacher a great flexibility to change the methodology of teaching. • Teacher can sharpen his/her communication skills. • It help the teacher to interact with each student and understand their difficulties.

Limitation of Small Group Teaching • At the teacher’s level • Teacher may not be aware of the goal of the small group teaching. He may misinterpret it and take the Lecture in small group of Students.

Limitation of Small Group Teaching • At Students level—They may – Dominant – Silent personalities – Feel Inferior – Show total disinterest. – Lack experience of Co education – Lack communication skills – Lack talkativeness • At environmental Level– Lack of space, furniture or time.

Some guidelines for Small Group Teaching • • Orient the students toward goal to be achieved. Keep the learning process moving. Probe students knowledge by asking questions. Avoid students giving information that they can obtain elsewhere.

Some guidelines for Small Group Teaching • Make sure, all the students contribute in discussion. • Identify both quiet and dominant students. • Take actions to make students talk, discuss and argue among themselves. • Prevent discussion which is directed toward facilitator. • Level of questions / discussion from simple to difficult level. • Recognize inter personal problems.

Conclusion • Thus we can conclude that small group teaching is very meaningful if……… • It is performed with great preparedness of Teacher & • Complete understanding of Students.

Thank You