Introduction of Mini‐peer Teaching Sessions (MPTs) During Dental Gross Anatomy Laboratory Sessions

Abstract

Dental Gross Anatomy is an integrated course during the first semester of dental education at the University Of Florida College Of Dentistry. The gross anatomy of the human body is still primarily learned in the anatomy laboratory. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectives of creating mini‐peer teaching sessions within assigned anatomy laboratory times.Multiple mini‐peer teaching sessions (MPTs) were created and held during the assigned anatomy sessions for first year dental students. During each MPT session, students at assigned tables were clustered into two stations (groups A and B). Each station consisted of students assigned to six tables; there were six to seven students presented per table. One student at each table was assigned as a teacher who was responsible for demonstrating dissected structures that their group had dissected.Other members at the assigned tables rotated every six to seven minutes intervals to learn about the anatomy at the other tables. After first round was concluded in groups A and B, the students were switched between A and B stations and a new teacher was designated to demonstrate the assigned anatomy. The MPTs allowed each student to observe the assigned cadaveric anatomy at all 12 tables during a given MPT.Students’ perspective of the value of the dental MPT, sessions were extremely positive. An online survey taken during 2018 Fall semester from the First‐Year Dental students identified that the MPTs were extremely effective. Ninety eight percent of the students strongly agreed that their class mates, serving as peer teachers, were beneficial to their learning. Ninety five percent believed rotating to different stations, with different peer teachers, facilitated their learning of the assigned anatomy. Qualitative data further confirmed the positive impact students placed on the MPTs. Although setting up individual MPTs is time‐intensive, the teaching faculty view the MPTs experiences as a means to further enrich student’s knowledge‐base of anatomy.Support or Funding InformationUniversity of Florida, College of Medicine