Objective/Background: Engaging students to candidly share learning environment
experiences is essential to understand existing problems. Traditional information gathering methods,
including surveys, do not create a conversational space for student affirmation and empowerment.
Other informal conversations create buzz while not necessarily contributing to actionable intervention
planning.
The Group Level Assessment (GLA) is a recently described, participatory group method generating data
that participants themselves analyze and discuss. Published applications of the GLA include diverse participants, including Fortune 500 teams, and academic/community research groups. We have
conducted learning environment GLAs with medical students and residents to illuminate diverse
perspectives and plan to share this methodology by conducting a mock GLA with meeting participants.
Workshop Agenda: A 10-minute didactic session will introduce the benefits and format of the GLA. We
will then conduct a mock GLA and conclude with idea sharing and reflections on the process.
Participants will discuss potential applications of the GLA at their home institutions.
Interactive Component: We will conduct an abbreviated mock Group Level Assessment with
participants. During the GLA, participants respond to prompts or open-ended questions, addressing
group concerns and future directions. Prompts fostering participant imagination are included to raise
group energy level. GLA participants share prompt responses anonymously on Post-it Notes® placed on
wall charts. The responses are analyzed by small participant groups. Finally, the larger group discusses
the analysis and devises a strategic action plan.
Take-home Product: Participants will participate in a Group Level Assessment and leave with resources
to conduct a session at their home institution.
Key Words: Learning Environment, Methods
Topics: Faculty Development Seminar, 2019, Student, Resident, Faculty, Clerkship Director, Residency Director, Systems-Based Practice & Improvement, GME, UME,
Amy Thompson, MD, Amber Young, MS4, Diane Young, MD
