Medical school 2.0: How we developed a student-generated question bank using small group learning

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Assessment in Medical School

Background:

• Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) are standard for medical school assessment but face challenges in question creation and higher-order learning.
• Student involvement in MCQ development can address these issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the efficacy of a student-generated question bank in medical education.
• To improve the quality and engagement of learning activities.

Main Methods:

• Implemented a small group learning structure for students to create MCQs from self-study materials.
• Facilitated peer review of MCQs within groups and with the whole class.
• Instructor vetted all questions for inclusion in a formative learning question bank.

Main Results:

• 91% of students found the student-generated MCQ bank a valuable resource.
• 86% of students expressed interest in creating practice questions collaboratively in the future.

Conclusions:

• Student-generated question banks enhance learning depth and interactivity.
• This method increases session enjoyment and offers a resource for student assessment.