Team Based Learning
Team-based learning (TBL) is a highly structured “flipped classroom” teaching method that solves common challenges encountered in healthcare education. What do we all want to achieve? We want enquiring students, who are able to study information independently outside of the classroom, and can then use that information to solve scientific or clinical problems with their colleagues, creatively. We want the students to take responsibility and be accountable for their own learning, to be able to explain key concepts, make a reasoned argument, and work well with others, including in an inter-professional setting. We want good engagement, with students showing up in the classroom having done their background reading. TBL as a method really does deliver all this, and while it is a significant change in ways of working and thinking for educators, most of us who have taught using TBL would *never* go back to lectures!
TBL Workshop Part 1 - Our 2 hour workshop “TBL 101” will give you an introduction to TBL, what it is, how it works, and the benefits it can bring. We’ll teach you about TBL, using TBL. Following the TBL101 workshop, we’ll have an additional hour demonstrating TBL with a healthcare topic, working with students from different professional backgrounds.
TBL Workshop Part 2 - Our 2nd 2 hour workshop, for those enthused and wanting to take things further, “How to create a TBL study unit” will follow. You will be able to look at the considerations for educators wanting to use TBL, how to construct the materials, and some tips and tricks. Due to the nature of the workshops, attendees will need to do TBL 101 in order to get benefit from the 2nd workshop.
Facilitator Biographies
Prof. Josie Fraser, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, The Open University, United Kingdom
Professor Josie Fraser is Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the UK’s largest University: The Open University. Josie started her academic career as a neuropharmacologist with interests in cognitive and social behaviour, working on neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, post-natal depression and drug misuse. Josie did a BSc in Physiology & Pharmacology (Leeds) and PhD in Psychopharmacology (Bradford), followed with research posts at the Medical Research Council, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Massachusetts Medical School. While at Massachusetts, Josie was part of an international team at the cutting edge of brain scanning techniques. In teaching, Josie has always been passionate about making a difference to a wide range of students from diverse backgrounds. She has championed team-based learning (TBL) as a teaching style on the national and international stage, developing the first UK curriculum for Pharmacy education to be entirely delivered using TBL with University of Bradford colleagues (Alison Hartley and Simon Tweddell), and seeing impact on attainment gaps, growth in student skills and competency for healthcare communication. Now at the Open University, and increasingly focused on leadership, Josie promotes access to STEM education for under-represented groups, and continues her long-standing interest in technology-enhanced learning, including the award-winning OpenSTEM Labs (the Open University’s “internet of laboratory things”). Josie is the Open University "Aurora" Champion (developing women’s leadership skills and aspirations). A passionate believer in opening up opportunity, Josie enjoys outreach (bringing amazing OU research out to the general public), supporting the development of academic careers, and loves working at the OU where the myriad of student journeys are a constant source of inspiration. Find Josie @JosieAFraser on twitter.
Prof. Alison Hartley, Associate Dean, University of Bradford, United Kingdom
Prof. Alison Hartley is Associate Dean for Learning & Teaching in the Faculty of Health at the University of Bradford in the UK. Alison is a professional pharmacist who has had a very successful career in community pharmacy, with a particular interest in supporting intravenous drug users and in community-based health promotion. Alison delivered continuing professional development for fellow pharmacists in the UK for many years while a pharmacy practitioner, and her interest in education for pharmacy (and other healthcare professions) eventually led to her decision to go into academia. Initially working part-time in the pharmacy sector alongside a part-time University academic role in the School of Pharmacy at the University of Bradford, Alison was soon persuaded to lead the innovative MPharm programme, building transdisciplinary teaching teams and creating an integrated, spiral curriculum, delivered entirely using team-based learning. Following a few years of programme leadership in her own healthcare discipline, Alison sought a new challenge and has been working in the Faculty of Health since, bringing her expertise to bear on nursing, midwifery, radiotherapy, physio therapy, and other disciplines. From building a new MPharm programme to working on a potential medical school bid, Alison has somehow also found time to gain an MEd in medical education, a senior fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, win a UK National CATE award for the TBL MPharm curriculum, and is now studying for a PhD focused on educational use of social media. Find Alison @AlisonSHartley on twitter.