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Group poster presentations as a method of improving student communication and learning
Author(s) -
Walton Kristen Lee Williams
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a217-b
Subject(s) - enthusiasm , presentation (obstetrics) , class (philosophy) , medical education , group work , communication skills , public speaking , psychology , cooperative learning , medicine , mathematics education , teaching method , computer science , social psychology , linguistics , philosophy , artificial intelligence , radiology
Communication of technical information and collaborative group work are important skills for careers in biomedical science and health professions. In addition, group work can increase student engagement and skills in analysis. Students in a public health microbiology and infectious disease class were required to work in instructor‐assigned groups of 4–5 to create and present a poster on an infectious disease. Project goals were to build communication and collaboration skills as well as to increase student engagement and learning. Student groups chose topics, researched content, and designed their posters for presentation to the rest of the class. Students were surveyed before and after the poster presentations for self‐evaluation of content knowledge, confidence in communication skills, and research skills. Many students expressed enthusiasm for working in groups that allowed them to interact with their classmates, and few reported having done a research‐based poster presentation prior to the class. A self‐ and peer‐assessment evaluation of group collaboration was also completed. Grades on related exam questions were used to determine whether the content was effectively delivered to the class as a whole. In conclusion, poster presentations are an effective way to actively engage students in course content and to give them opportunities to improve communication and collaboration skills.