Exit Menu

Team-Based Learning

 

By combining Team-Based Learning (TBL) with clinical exposure from the first year, Brunel Medical School takes a truly innovative approach towards learning medicine.

We are among the few medical schools in the world to use TBL as a significant method for classroom instruction. We intend to utilise the experience and expertise of our existing community of TBL practitioners to support the development of the MBBS curriculum.  Our MBBS students will learn in small groups of 5-6 people facilitated by academics and TBL facilitators using TBL-enabled software. This will create a highly interactive and collaborative learning environment for our students.

In TBL, students carry out some pre-study and then come together with a team of peers. They first assess their own knowledge before working with their team to consolidate learning together.

Students may remain in the same small group for a period of time to create strong bonds so that peer-to-peer learning flourishes.  

Team-Based Learning video 

TBL youtube video

Benefits of Team-Based Learning at Brunel Medical School 

  • Students quickly learn how to work effectively in teams under pressure
  • Student engagement is considerably higher than other forms of teaching
  • Students have the opportunity to apply scientific and medical knowledge to real-life clinical cases
  • Peer-to-peer learning, especially when amongst international students from around the world, allows groups to generate very diverse ideas, views and opinions
  • Knowledge retention is much higher compared to traditional learning and teaching methods
  • TBL encourages a little friendly competition which often raises the standard of individuals and the group itself
  • TBL also encourages individuals to engage in the pre-study to avoid letting their team mates down and create a sense of accountability for their learning
  • Students learn how to problem solve and debate whilst developing life-long, transferable essential skills that are highly relevant to medicine and life in general; e.g. teamwork, communications and interpersonal skills
  • Students are able to take ownership of their own learning by making their own assessment as to how well they are progressing compared to other members in the group.              

Team-Beasd Learning phases

1) Preparation 

Students, on their own, study course content outside of class either by online/offline reading, or listening to/watching pre-recorded lectures.

2a) In-class Individual Readiness Assurance Testing (iRAT)

In class, students independently complete a short multiple-choice test or quiz based on their preparation study.

2b) Team Readiness Assurance Test (tRAT) 

Students then gather in their own groups and using TBL-enabled software, retake the test and record their answers.

3) Application of course concepts

Finally, again working in their groups, students collectively solve problems by applying their knowledge to real-life medical situations. It is here that academics facilitate a classroom discussion to help draw conclusions and to strengthen the learning of the session.  

We will also have medical and health professional experts and patients involved in some sessions to help students understand the clinical application of the knowledge you are learning to the work of the doctor.

4) Peer Review

Students will be encouraged to give and receive constructive feedback, a skill set required in the work place where health professionals are expected to work with teams from several disciplines. We intend to develop a process to enable our students to highlight the positive behaviours of their peers and develop the skills of constructive feedback.

 

Biosciences TBL 2

Biomedical Science example of TBL

 

Med students 350x350

Medicine MBBS
Scholarships

Medicine scholarships
Flags

International campus