Twelve tips for small group teaching 2.0 – Rebooted for remote and HyFlex learning

Abstract

Small group teaching (SGT) is not just the delivery of teaching to a small number of learners – it is, instead, underpinned by learner–learner interaction, discussion, and collaboration. The advent of readily available technology, combined with the need to maintain learner and teacher safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to a surge in remote learning, and significant increases in synchronous hybrid learning environments, also known as HyFlex learning, in which some learners join remotely and others do so in-person. Teaching in this manner brings new challenges and opportunities and, when compared to face-to-face SGT, requires teachers to employ a complementary repertoire of skills. Against this backdrop, and with the pressing need to up-skill teachers in this domain, we take a fresh look at previously published tips for SGT and reboot these strategies in the context of remote and HyFlex SGT. The challenges of adapting these tips in a changed environment will be considered, and refashioned strategies for their application will be offered.

Keywords:

• Remote learning
• hyflex learning
• small group teaching
• facilitation
• technology-enhanced learning
• online learning

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Richard Thomson

Richard Thomson, MA, MBBChir, FRCP, DipClinEd, PhD, is a Consultant Gastroenterologist and Subdean at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. His interests include faculty development, technology-enhanced learning, and group dynamics.

James Fisher

James Fisher, MBBS, MRCP, MClinEd, MD, is a Consultant Geriatrician and Senior Lecturer at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. His interests include faculty development, technology-enhanced learning, and educational interventions that address negative attitudes towards older people.

Yvonne Steinert

Yvonne Steinert, PhD, CM, is a clinical psychologist, Professor of Family Medicine and Health Sciences Education, and the former Director of the Centre for Medical Education and Institute of Health Sciences Education at McGill University. Her interests include faculty development, professionalism and professional identity formation, and teaching and learning in the health professions.