A brief team-building session strengthens small group dynamics in preclinical medical education

Abstract

Small group learning is becoming increasingly popular in medical education. Upon returning to in-person instruction following the COVID-19 pandemic, we have experienced challenges with team dynamics in small group learning. Resources exist for lengthy team-building workshops, however team-building sessions that can be adapted to be delivered in a single hour-long session are scarce. We developed a resource that fills this gap and provides a strong foundation for group development by swiftly guiding students through the forming and storming stages of group work. Positive reception of the session indicates student appreciation for dedicated time towards group development. Participation in the team-building session made students more comfortable addressing lapses in agreed upon expectations on self and peer-evaluations after several months of working together. This team-building session effectively strengthens small group dynamics and serves as an adaptable option for medical educators who desire to improve group dynamics but lack significant schedule time.