Online team‐based learning sessions as interactive methodologies during the pandemic

1. WHAT PROBLEMS WERE ADDRESSED?

The medical education system is currently facing robust challenges as a consequence of the coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) pandemic. One of them is the maintenance of interactive learning techniques such as team‐based learning (TBL). Team‐based learning is an interactive teaching method that is learner centred and instructor directed. It sequentially involves self‐work followed by teamwork.

After providing the reading material, students are commonly asked to solve 10‐20 multiple choice questions, known as the individual readiness assurance test (iRAT). Students are then assigned to answer the same questions when working together in teams, the team readiness assurance test (tRAT).

Immediate feedback, often facilitated by using scratch‐off cards, is one of the cornerstones of TBL. Afterwards, the instructor may clarify additional points as needed. ¹

2. WHAT WAS TRIED?

The breakout room feature in the Zoom™ (Zoom Video Communications, Inc., San Jose, CA, USA) platform was used to split students into teams where they could assemble to work together on their tRAT. We needed to do this for 35 teams of 25 students, whereas a single Zoom meeting can accommodate four groups. As such, nine meetings were scheduled, with a leader assigned for each team who created a WhatsApp (WhatsApp, Inc., Menlo Park, CA, USA) group to facilitate communication with team members prior to the session beginning.

To accommodate any unexpected internet problems, students were allowed 1 week to arrange the session. Pre‐reading material was uploaded on the students’ website and the day before the scheduled sessions, an orientation session on the Zoom application was delivered to the team leaders.

When the session started, teams were logged into the breakout rooms. Each team leader presented the questions to his peers and they were given enough time to undergo the iRAT and tRAT. Team leaders were asked to send their answers on the zoom chat simultaneously. Afterwards, all rooms united with the tutor for the feedback session.

There was a 96.5% attendance rate. A survey was disseminated amongst participants to test their feedback; 50.7% of students responded to the questionnaire with 85.0% satisfaction rate.

After conducting all the sessions, an educational video (https://youtu.be/3Duic3zFbpc ) was recorded and uploaded for faculty members who would like to go through the same experience. Positive feedback from multiple colleagues in various Egyptian universities was received.

3. WHAT LESSONS WERE LEARNED?

Medical educators faced a sudden shift to digitalisation. This experience was not only enabled by adapting to the unexpected by using a free application to conduct online TBL, but also required dedicated teachers who can think outside the box and collaborative students.

It also involved providing support for those who have no access to internet services. This model can be replicated in other teaching and learning modalities. It could be of utmost benefits for assessment methods.