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Letting go: Student structured in-class group work
Trish Elliott, DrPH
Boston University Instructional Innovation ConferenceMarch 7, 2014
OverviewInnovation purpose
How it works
Application to other courses
Questions
INNOVATION PURPOSE
ContextCourse: Managing Maternal and
Child Health Programs
Assignment: Work in teams to create an organizational profile of a MCH program or organization.
Need for innovation: Students lack professional management experience.
Goals of the Group Assignment
Analyze organizational structure and function using management concepts
Communicate effectively through writingPrepare for and lead an effective team
meetingDemonstrate team building, negotiation
and leadership skillsDevelop strategies to motivate others
for collaborative problem solving, decision making, and evaluation
Demonstrate time management
Challenges for StudentsLittle to no professional experience
No management experience
Underestimation of the complexities involved with applying management concepts
Group work is often either not managed or micromanaged by faculty
Innovation:
Students need practice and support to build new skills
Multifaceted skills-building sessions◦Readings-
concepts in management science
◦In-class lectures- examples and clarification of concepts
◦In-class group meetings- application of concepts
HOW IT WORKS
Instructor
Individual StudentsGroups of Students
Instructor ResponsibilitiesInstructor’s Responsibilities:
◦Provide a complete description of the assignment on the first day
◦Define the skills needed for success◦Select readings and in-class material
to support knowledge base◦Provide in-class time for group work
Get out of the way
The Schedule
Student ResponsibilitiesPreparation Assessment
Readings and Course Material
Full class discussion and cases
Group Meetings AgendasMeeting MinutesBrief Reflections
Group ResponsibilitiesSet the schedule of work
productsEstablish and maintain
accountability to each otherOrganize and carry out project
pieces:◦Roles and responsibilities◦Key informant interviews◦Combining and editing
Challenges
Students InstructorStruggled through the
group processWanted intervention
Time management
Project management
Hard not to step in
Sacrificed in-class time
Identified issues through a draft of the assignment
What the students said…
“We work in groups in a lot of classes, I can say this is the first time I have ever enjoyed a group project.”
What the students said…“I enjoyed the class participation portion of this course as it facilitated teamwork, problem-solving and the sharing of management ideas/experiences.” “Working with a single group on a specific organization over the course of the semester was a unique experience that facilitated learning.”
“The group assignment was an amazing experience …we got to exhibit management skills through our meetings and assignment”“I feel like I gained a skills set that I can apply
in the real world of public health.”
APPLICATION TO OTHER COURSES
Application of InnovationDirect use in other courses
◦Any course related to management sciences
Expanded use for the format◦This multi-faceted format for skills
building can be applied across the curriculum to help student acquire a variety of new skills
SUMMARY
BenefitsImproves students’ understanding of the
nuances and complexities of managing teams, priorities, and projects
Engages and challenges students to apply management concepts in a group process that mimics real working relationships
Offers flexibility for a range of audiences and educational goals
THANK YOU
Trish Elliott, DrPHClinical Assistant ProfessorCommunity Health SciencesBU School of Public [email protected] 617-414-1389
