The Collaborative Learning Development Exercise (CLeD-EX): an educational instrument to promote key collaborative learning behaviours in medical students

Abstract

Background: Modern clinical practice increasingly relies on collaborative and team-based approaches to care. Regulatory bodies in medical education emphasise the need to develop collaboration and teamwork competencies and highlight the need to do so from an early stage of medical training. In undergraduate medical education, the focus is usually on collaborative learning, associated with feedback and reflection on this learning This article describes a novel educational instrument, the Collaborative Learning Development Exercise (CLeD-EX), which aims to foster the development of key collaborative learning competencies in medical students. In this article we report on the effectiveness, feasibility and educational impact of the CLeD-EX. Methods: In this study, the “educational design research” framework was used to develop, implement and evaluate the CLeD-EX. This involved adopting a systematic approach towards designing a creative and innovative instrument which would help solve a real-world challenge in developing collaborative learning skills. The systematic approach involved a qualitative exploration of key collaborative learning behaviours which are influential in effective collaborative learning contexts. The identified competencies were employed in the design of the CLeD-EX. The design of the CLeD-EX included features to facilitate structured feedback by tutors to students, complemented by self-evaluation and reflection. The CLeD-EX was field-tested with volunteer junior medical students, using a controlled pre-test post-test design. Analysis of the completed CLeD-EX forms, self-perception surveys (i.e. pre-test and post-test surveys) and analyses of reflective reports were used to explore the educational impact of CLeD-EX, as well as its utility and practicality. Results: After using the CLeD-EX, students showed a significant improvement in critical thinking and group process as measured by a previously validated instrument. Both students and tutors recognised CLeD-EX as an effective instrument, especially as a structured basis for giving and receiving feedback and for completing the feedback loop. CLeD-EX was also found to be feasible, practical and focused, while promoting learning and effective interactions in small group learning. Conclusion: The findings of this study support the introduction of an effective and feasible educational instrument such as the CLeD-EX, to facilitate the development of students’ skills in collaborative learning.

Collaborative learning in small groups in an online course – a case study

“…Collaborative learning (CL) and teamwork skills developed through working in groups are important competencies for healthcare workers [10]. Group work is therefore a pedagogical method that is widely used in health and social science education (e.g., problembased learning (PBL), team-based learning (TBL) and simulation training), and much research has been carried out into these pedagogical methods [11].…”

Collaborative Learning in Small Groups in an Online Course – A Case Study

“…Collaborative learning (CL) and teamwork skills developed through working in groups are important competencies for healthcare workers (10). Group work is therefore a pedagogical method that is widely used in health and social science education (e.g., problem-based learning (PBL), team-based learning (TPS) and simulation training), and much research has been carried out into these pedagogical methods (11).…”

Uso da aprendizagem colaborativa como ferramenta para avaliar anomalias craniofaciais sindrômicas

“…Hospitals provide a rich learning environment for students, staff, patients, their families and caregivers, and converting the health care system into a learning organization is a key strategy to improve patient flow and consequently health outcomes, but also a challenge to understand how to maintain quality of the learning experience within the busy clinical environment in a daily basis 2,3,4 . To address these needs, team members have to understand their roles and responsibilities related to their professions and to the collective team 5 , and see collaborative learning and teamwork as core competencies that impact the quality of health care provided 6 . Collaborative learning may be a useful lens to consider when defining how to enact this in practice.…”

“…Collaborative learning may be a useful lens to consider when defining how to enact this in practice. This type of learning may also assist in understanding how interprofessional education may encourage learners to work together by examining problems while interacting with peers to discuss and debate concepts, which will promote higher order cognitive reasoning 6,7 .…”