Team-based learning: a relevant strategy in health professionals' education

For about a decade, team-based learning (TBL), as an educational strategy, has been growing in use in the US and in several other international medical schools. It is a learner-centered, small group instructional strategy with good academic outcomes and considerable potential to address many of the professional competencies that are critical for the practice of medicine. For it to be successful in a course or curriculum, its essential components must be used properly. This article explains the importance and relevance of TBL in healthcare education, supports its inclusion as an effective learning strategy, and encourages the reader to explore additional resources, including the recently published AMEE Guide in Medical Education related to the topic (Parmelee et al, 2012).