Clinical discussion sessions and small groups

Because most adults learn more efficiently and what they learn is retained longer when they are able to engage in active learning, discussion groups are at the center of medical education. Group discussion is an active learning process. Active learning supports participant interchange through structured and supportive educational procedures. Small group discussions provide opportunities for identification of new areas of knowledge acquisition by students. They also can be used to formally integrate previous knowledge though active integrating discussion. The clinical instructor who uses small group discussions effectively will find that his role as information provider is diminished, but that his role as facilitator is greatly enhanced. The paper focuses on purposes for discussion groups, the role of the clinical instructor, and offers specific suggestions for techniques to enhance small group discussions.