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 Healthpelliott@bu.edu 617-414-1389