Large Group Versus Small Group- A Teaching Principle in Medical Education

Abstract

BACKGROUND Medical education is an evolving scientific field with new modifications and changes in teaching style added continuously for the betterment of medical students. Small group teaching is a new trend compared to large group didactic lectures. Small group teaching is an active mode of teaching with participation from the students and thus results in better understanding of concepts. Large group teachings are conventional mode of teaching, which is preferred by teachers and students, as it exposes students to competition and newer concepts. Aim-To compare and analyse the teaching methodologies in small and large group and its benefits and disadvantages on the students. MATERIALS AND METHODS This descriptive study conducted in Saveetha Medical College, Chennai, India on 1st MBBS students for teaching Anatomy over a period of academic year. In this study, Anatomy was taught in large and small groups over an equal timeframe for more or less equal portions. A feedback analysis was done for a questionnaire given to the students, which clearly showed students preferred small group teaching. A performance analysis was also conducted after large and small group teachings and the performancemeans were analysed by paired t-test, which too showed a significant difference in the mean scores attained by students on internal assessment exams. RESULTS Questionnaire analysis showed students preferred small group teaching compared to large group teaching. The analysis of the internal assessment performances after small group teaching showed a significant improvement compared to that after large group teaching. CONCLUSION Thus, this study attempts not only at subjective testing of the modification of teaching but also includes objective testing by testing the performance of students both after large group and small group teachings.