CURV 804 - Small Group Teaching
Course Description
The ability to design, facilitate and evaluate practical small group teaching sessions is an essential skill for educators in health professions. Whether you’re an aspiring educator or an experienced professional, this microcredential validates the advanced skills needed to create engaging, learner-centered small group experiences that foster active learning and enhance knowledge retention.
In Small Group Teaching in Health Professions Education, you'll demonstrate your expertise in planning, facilitating, and assessing small group teaching sessions tailored to the unique needs of healthcare learners. From identifying learning objectives and selecting appropriate teaching strategies to creating an inclusive, supportive environment, this microcredential assesses your ability to guide small group learning experiences effectively.
You will also be required to:
- Design a session that aligns with clear learning objectives and supports active engagement
- Implement effective teaching strategies that encourage participation, critical thinking, and collaboration
- Utilize assessment techniques to gauge learning outcomes and provide constructive feedback
- Reflect on your teaching approach, identifying strengths and areas for improvement to enhance your practice continuously
What to Expect
When you enrol in Small Group Teaching in Health Professions Education, we provide you with resources and exercises to help you refresh your teaching strategies and enhance your small group facilitation skills. You’ll then complete an assessment to showcase your ability to design and lead practical small-group learning sessions in a health professions context. An expert will review your work, and you’ll receive personalized feedback. If you meet our standard for expertise, you’ll earn a Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Curv microcredential from The Chang School that validates your ability to:
- Design a small group learning session in a health care setting that align with course objectives and encourages active participation
- Facilitate a small group session employing best practices of small group teaching, including creating an inclusive learning environment, encouraging active participation and navigating group dynamics
- Develop effective interactive strategies to evaluate both group dynamics and individual learner progress
- Evaluate the effectiveness of the small group teaching session, deconstruct key session elements, and propose specific improvements for future sessions based on learner feedback and self-reflection
For the assessment, you will:
- Design, facilitate and lead a small group teaching session for professionals in health care or a related field on a health or health care topic of your choosing
- Use the provided template to create your session plan, which should include learning outcomes, materials, and an overview of interactive teaching activities
- You will record yourself teaching the session
- Use the provided template to provide a structured reflection and evaluation of your session
Meet the Curv Creators
This microcredential was created by Dr. Priya Chopra, a breast oncology surgeon at William Osler Health System. She pioneered a Breast Diagnostic Program that streamlined pre-treatment consultations, cutting wait times and enhancing patient and healthcare team satisfaction. Dr. Chopra is also an Assistant Clinical Professor and Associate Director for Community and Global Health Course at the TMU School of Medicine.
This microcredential was also created by Dr. Sheila Holmes, Undergraduate Medical Education Curriculum Director for the TMU School of Medicine.
Who Should Take This Program?
This microcredential is designed for health professionals, educators, and aspiring educators looking to enhance their teaching skills in small group settings within health professions education. Whether you’re an experienced practitioner seeking to expand your teaching methods or a new educator aiming to improve your ability to facilitate small-group learning, this microcredential shows that you are ready to make an impactful contribution to the education of the next generation of health professionals.
You may come from a clinical background or have an educational foundation in health sciences, but your commitment to refining and validating your teaching practices is what sets you apart. This microcredential equips you with the expertise to design and lead small group learning sessions that foster collaboration, critical thinking, and professional development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements for this microcredential?
Before enrolling in this microcredential, you should have foundational knowledge and skills in small group teaching within health professions education. If you can answer ‘yes’ to the following statements, you may be ready to enroll:
- Basic understanding of instructional design and teaching strategies
- Familiarity with small-group teaching concepts, such as group dynamics, active learning, and assessment methods
- Experience in health professions education, either as a current educator or as a practitioner looking to expand your teaching skills
- Proficiency in spoken and written English, with the ability to communicate effectively in a classroom or group setting
- Familiarity with virtual collaboration tools such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams
Note: This microcredential includes a live audience requirement as part of the assessment. You are responsible for making all necessary arrangements to film an online or in-person session that demonstrates your competency. For more information about this requirement, contact the Curv Microcredentials team at jessica@torontomu.ca.
What do I need to do for the assessment?
For this assessment, you will design, facilitate, and evaluate a small-group teaching session for a group of health professions (or for those in a profession related to the provision of health care). The session will be on a topic of your choosing but should relate to an aspect of health or health care.
As part of this microcredential, you must demonstrate your competency by teaching a session with a live audience. You will record yourself facilitating either an in-person or online session and submit a 15–20 minute video as part of your assessment. Your submission will include a detailed teaching plan, the video recording of your session, and a structured reflection on your teaching experience.
This assessment validates your ability to design and facilitate small group learning sessions that are effective, engaging, and aligned with best practices in health professions education.
What are the technological requirements for the assessment?
You will need the following tools:
- A stable internet connection (no minimum speed required)
- A computer with an internet browser (e.g., Chrome, Edge, Safari, Firefox; Chrome is recommended for optimal experience)
- A webcam and microphone for recording your lesson delivery
- A mobile phone* capable of receiving SMS text messages for two-factor authentication
Why do I need a mobile phone?
You will need a mobile device for two-factor authentication to access the my.torontomu.ca portal and the micro credential environment (D2L Brightspace)
How much time do I have to complete the assessment after enrolling?
Your microcredential will last for six weeks. During the first two weeks, you will have access to the microcredential environment (D2L Brightspace) to explore the supporting materials and complete practice activities. These materials are self-paced and can take approximately 2 to 7 hours, depending on your experience.
Starting in the third week, you will have access to the assessment scenario and materials. You can open the assessment window and complete it any time during the second week. The assessment is time-limited, and it is recommended that you follow the suggested time limit (e.g., three hours) outlined in the Assessment Information section.
What are my support options?
Upon enrolling, you will have access to refresher resources and exercises. Your expert assessor will be available through the D2L Support Forum for any questions prior to the assessment. If you have any questions or experience any technical issues, you may contact Toronto Metropolitan University’s Computing and Communications Services (CCS) by email or phone.
What happens once I complete the assessment?
You will receive your result from an expert assessor one week after completing the assessment.
- If you meet the criteria and pass the assessment, you will receive a shareable Curv microcredential digital credential from The Chang School at Toronto Metropolitan University. This credential can be shared on your LinkedIn profile, personal website, or anywhere you wish to showcase your achievements.
- If you do not pass the assessment, you may re-enroll in the next offering of this microcredential. Be sure to review your feedback and ensure you fill any gaps in knowledge or skills before re-registering.