Facilitators' Corner
We pose three questions to some of our MCWfusion Curriculum’s Patient-Based Discussion (PBD) Facilitators to learn about their experiences in this role. Thank you to all who serve in this vital role for the School of Medicine!
What do you find most exciting about being a facilitator?
I've been so impressed with the growth and development of our medical students, meeting them in their first week of medical school where their knowledge is minimal to none. I get to see them develop their knowledge base and interest while having to go back through medical school with them as the curriculum advances. I feel like I'm a part of their medical education experience.
What do you find most challenging about being a facilitator?
Trying to be a fund of knowledge for all of the students when they have a question while making sure that the information that I'm using is up to date. Much of what I'm doing is outside of my area of expertise, and this challenges me to keep up with the developments in different areas. While doing this, I have to find some way to keep students comfortable with going to the literature and, yes, google, while sifting through what is important and what is not.
What one piece of advice would you give to a new facilitator?
Become comfortable with showing that you do not know everything, and that it is possible to become a sort of content expert in a short period of time if you search for information from the right sources. Though students will try to just copy information from their notes to get the question done, asking them to search for the data or to find an opposing viewpoint from another source allows them to see that there isn't one answer to the question, but interpretations of the data.
What do you find most exciting about being a facilitator?
I really like working with the Phase 1 students. It reminds me of what it felt like to be a medical student, and it also helps me reflect on how much I have learned in the last decade. I also find that it has made me a better clinician to review some of this material that I haven’t thought about in 10 years!
What do you find most challenging about being a facilitator?
For me, the hardest part is not jumping right in and giving the correct answer as soon as the students are struggling. I try to listen for which students have more mastery of certain areas and redirect questions from other students to the group or to the student who demonstrates that they understand that specific topic.
What one piece of advice would you give to a new facilitator?
It’s okay to admit when you don’t personally know the answer to a question that comes up in PBD. Medicine is a field of life-long learning and sometimes we all learn something new together.
What do you find most exciting about being a facilitator?
It is exciting when the discussion goes to the next level, and the learners demonstrate their critical thinking skills. As the facilitator, I am tasked with ensuring that they answer the question according to the guide. Many of the questions are outside of my expertise, so I am not always able to add additional insight to those questions. However, it is really interesting when the students offer answers that are not listed explicitly in the guide, and also provide their rationale for the line of thought. It is wonderful to see them develop as clinicians during these discussions.
What do you find most challenging about being a facilitator?
A challenge is ensuring that learners get the main take-away points from the discussion questions. The prep sessions help us to identify what the most important points of the answer are. When the answer guide contains a lot of text, it often helps when main points are either bolded or presented like a checklist.
What one piece of advice would you give to a new facilitator?
Learn to be comfortable with quiet moments during discussion. Students need time to think, and they will learn to seek out answers without interjection. Those quiet times often allow a leader in the group to emerge and help identify what is needed in the moment!
What do you find most exciting about being a facilitator?
As a facilitator of patient-based discussions, I find the intellectual growth of my students to be the most exciting aspect. These discussions provide an invaluable opportunity for students to apply their foundational science knowledge to real-life clinical scenarios, guiding them to a deeper understanding of medical concepts. The dynamic exchanges and curiosity sparked within each student as they explore each case are what make these discussions so exciting. Additionally, witnessing the students’ diverse perspectives and problem-solving approaches is highly gratifying. Every session becomes a melting pot of ideas, bringing together the backgrounds and experiences of each student to enrich the collaborative learning environment.
What do you find most challenging about being a facilitator?
As a facilitator, the most significant challenge is to strike a balance between guiding the discussions and allowing students to explore and learn independently. Achieving this equilibrium requires patience, adaptability, and a deep understanding of the different learning styles within the group.
What one piece of advice would you give to a new facilitator?
A key recommendation is to embrace flexibility and adaptability. Each student brings a unique set of strengths and challenges. Flexibility enables facilitators to tailor their approach to the needs of the group, fostering an environment that is conducive to effective learning.
What do you find most exciting about being a facilitator?
Facilitation is an opportunity to engage in continuous learning. It involves lots of back-and-forth, tackling challenges, and listening to different viewpoints. The best part is witnessing the growth and transformation of students – both individually and collectively as a group. Getting the reserved ones to come out of their shells and get more comfortable participating in the discussion is very gratifying. I love being a part of their learning journey.
What do you find most challenging about being a facilitator?
Getting the discussion back on track can be a bit tricky. It involves finding the right moments to gently guide students back to the main topic, especially when their curiosity leads us down unexpected paths. Balancing this redirection is challenging—it's about letting the conversation flow naturally while ensuring we stay aligned with our main goals. Striking that balance keeps the discussions lively and on point, respecting everyone's perspectives along the way.
What one piece of advice would you give to a new facilitator?
Try creating a space where everyone feels heard and is excited to learn. Be flexible and ready to switch things up based on how the group is doing. Also, remember to ask for feedback as it provides invaluable insights for refining your facilitation skills.
What do you find most exciting about being a facilitator?
Having weekly contact with the same group of students has been amazing. Everyone is coming together with unique past experiences and relating those experiences to help them learn this new material. I have seen the group become more comfortable over time, with initially quiet students starting to speak out and make insightful contributions they would not have at the beginning of the school year.
What do you find most challenging about being a facilitator?
Balancing self-discovery by the students with my desire to make sure they learn the curriculum required. Sometimes students ask questions wanting to know an answer, and if they have not put the effort into looking for the answer, I have to put my head down and pretend I don’t hear them as they find the answers as a group. The other challenging aspect has been to empower quiet learners in the small group learning setting.
What one piece of advice would you give to a new facilitator?
Focus on the group dynamic early by caring about each student individually. Once the students know and appreciate each other’s perspectives, I’ve found it creates a wonderful learning environment.
What do you find most exciting about being a facilitator?
I find it really energizing to work as a facilitator with the M1 students. It transports me back to that sense of wonder and awe that I can recall being so prominent early on in my medical training, as I learned so many new medical facts. Working as a facilitator with the M1s allows me to relive some of that sense of discovery through their eyes.
What do you find most challenging about being a facilitator?
I think it can sometimes be challenging to not want to jump in and directly answer questions for the students. But being a facilitator is about more than just helping the students arrive at a correct answer; it is more so about guiding the students through the thought process or approach of arriving at an answer.
What one piece of advice would you give to a new facilitator?
No one expects you to be a content expert, so don’t worry about not knowing everything. Your role is not to be an encyclopedic repository of knowledge, but to help guide the learners in how to think about a problem or question and help them learn how to approach a solution.