Dear Amanda,

Great idea!  We've had some very positive experiences with

our students.  There are three 'tips' that come to mind - things we

have learned:

1) does take more time than MCQ format, so allow for that - either

have your RAT at an earlier time or keep it short.  If you have other

components to the Application, be sure they do not consume much time.

Allow full 3 hours if you do the whole module in one sitting.

2) Have all the materials carefully organized and easy for the teams to

access.  Use the large 'sticky' POST ITs made by 3M or equivalent and indicate

where teams post, placing their team #s on each sheet.  Colored markers in abundance helps, encourage making them creatively attractive, but legible. Graphic enhancements are welcome.

3) REAL KEY: they must make a specific choice!  Stay far a away from anything that is 'brainstorming.'  For instance, in one of ours in adolescence & public health, we ask them to write out the TWO interventions MOST LIKELY to have an effect in the case community's pregnancy rate (they have to analyze the demographics of that community).  If two or more postings are essentially identical, then YOU can place one over the other and it becomes one. 

4) Give a specific timeframe for the posting - simultaneous report! (prevents borrowing of ideas)

5) All teams must study the other postings and MAKE a decision on which one

is the best based on criteria you establish, then be prepared to say why.  Use the nifty colored 'sticky square post-its' with team #'s on each to display.  This takes time - they all get up and move around to read & discuss.  Good part to video record some of the conversations and animations.  YOU and any other faculty who participate need to vote too, at the end in your wrap up.

6) Hard to have a grade, but you can and should reward the teams that get the most votes.  Use iTunes or Starbucks cards for team rewards, or something local you know they like.  

7) Take pictures during the module or have your video person do so.  Even still shots show lots of engagement and activity, everyone is having a good time (in medical school?) 

8) As always, the 'conclusion' of the module needs to really wrap things up with good facilitation on your part.  Clearly summarize what they have done, what you have heard between the lines in their deliberations, why you feel specific postings were best, etc, what are the important 'take home' points of the exercise that they can use.  Of course, this is after you have gotten them to inter-team discuss and defend. 

Sorry I have gone on and on, but I just love these sessions with everyone up and about and making noise in the classroom!  I have stomach pain whenever I go past our lecture hall and see a faculty member lecturing with powerpoints, the class is only 20% there and those there are not really there.  What a waste of student and faculty talent.  

Dean 

On Feb 6, 2012, at 8:54 AM, Emke, Amanda R. wrote:

I am considering using Gallery Walks for the first time in my 2nd year medical student pre-clinical pediatrics course. Having never done them, though, I wanted to get some feedback/experiences on the time needed to do them properly.

 

Thanks, in advance, for your help!

 

Amanda

 

Amanda R. Emke, MD 
     Instructor, Divisions of Pediatric Critical Care 
                     & Hospital Medicine 
     Course Master, Pre-Clinical Pediatrics 
     Washington University School of Medicine 
     St. Louis Children's Hospital 
     One Children's Place, NWT CB 8116 
     St. Louis, MO 63110 
     314-454-2678 
     [log in to unmask]

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