ACUE Lunch and Learn: Collaborative Group Work: the pragmatic use of Group Learning Contracts to ensure accountability and encourage positive dynamics

Facilitator: Danielle Bentley; Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Division of Anatomy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine

This session describes the use of collaborative group work for both in-class review assignments and two-stage collaborative testing. Imperative to the discussion is the design and implementation of Group Learning Contracts, and the iterative process of revisiting these throughout the semester to ensure accountability, encourage respect, open communication and conflict resolution.

There are several talking points extracted from the ACUE modules, the majority of which align with the Active Learning ACUE modules.

This session will include my operational approach to group allocation, the creation of a Group Learning Contract template in Quercus for group members to simultaneously edit, and integration of the contract into in-class activities. The session will conclude with direct feedback from the students illuminating their experiences.

Instructors from all disciplines interested in integrating effective group work within their teaching will gain insights to build or enhance their approaches in this area.

Part of CTSI's ACUE Lunch and Learn series