Establishing Small Group Ground Rules

These are ground rules suggested via a facilitator meeting in December of 2005.  Please notify Dr. Davis at daviss2@ohio.edu if you have any additions. 

Of course these are just suggestions and they are to be worked out and further defined by the group at the first meeting.

1.     Possible/Suggested Ground Rules:

• Issues with using technology in the small group classroom:

  Computers (internet), projector, document camera

   STATEMENT OF THE CHALLENGE: By the end of AY05-06, all small group rooms will be equipped with internet and imaging technologies.  In addition, our school and students are rapidly moving away from paper-based products and using computers and other electronic devices to accomplish their work.  This growing electronic technology pervasiveness in the small group setting requires us to think critically about its impact on small group work.  Therefore, by explicitly stating the primary purposes of the small group-learning format, and outlining the major assets and liabilities/challenges of this emerging development, we have developed some “rules of engagement” for consideration by your group.  

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  The primary purposes of the small group-learning format are for students to:

   1) Develop life-long learning skills and enhance medical knowledge by assessing, explaining, discussing, systematic reasoning and applying medical knowledge in the context of clinical case presentations for integrated learning and better long-term recall.

  2) Develop and demonstrate social, interpersonal, communication and collaboration skills that prepare our students to establish and maintain professional relationships with patients, families, health care team members and a diverse patient population.

  3) Develop the skills of critical thinking, research, evaluation, teaching, giving and receiving feedback, exploration, and cooperation.

   Note:  The AOA Core Competencies served as a resource for the wording for these purpose statements.

  ASSETS                                                                               LIABILITIES/CHALLENGES

  Just in time website information	Divided attention so some are missing the work of the group or having private study
  Learn to use technology (individually & in a small group)
  Tools to make group more efficient & interdependent	Distraction and/or diversion of group work
  Can be used to create “shared experience”	Time sink for searches
  Instant tool to look up definitions quickly for group	Source reliability and validity
  Projection of scribe work on screen	Computer operation and presenter control
  Ability to save scribe work at .doc or .pdf files	File organization
  Projection of notes, diagrams, pictures on screen	File sharing
  Ability to save any notes, diagrams, pictures on screen	Not using the technology wisely
  Instant question submission to S&I Panel	Leaning on technology rather than learning
  Emails to & from experts in group	Instant EBM work (discourages preparation?)
  Paperless educating/learning	Slows the group down
  Easier to administer progressive disclosure	Greater preparation required on the part of the facilitators and the block case writers
  Will eliminate paper copies
  	Technology training required
  	Physical barrier to group participation

   Suggested rules for dealing with this emerging challenge:

  1. Discussion is still supreme (as apposed to reading off a screen).
  2. Laptop work must be related to the groups tasks (no personal email, chat or other surfing/playing).
  3. System should be used for sharing information (send to Bb and bring up in class favorite resources).
  4. Scribe should control the technology for the session.
  5. Wrap up should include evaluation of how the technology is being used.
  6. Group agrees on what they believe is appropriate use.
  7. Give immediate feedback if technology is being used inappropriately.
  8. Agree that it is not appropriate to look up work that should have been prepared.
  9. Purpose of technology is to enhance group effectiveness.
  10.  Quick look-ups allowed =>60 seconds.
  11. Single, group-only computer--No individual users. 
  12. Add a spot for this in the facilitator evaluation of students (appropriate use of technology)
  13.  
  14.  
  15.  

For another day...Facilitator Expectations: will ask about drugs, do not read, will ask about terms & jargon, dress, use full 2 hours