Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine uses InteDashboard to effectively conduct Team-based Learning classes for preclinical medical students

Shreya Verma

Apr 19, 2023 • 4min read

Discover how Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine (OUWB) streamlined their Team-based Learning (TBL) classes for first and second year medical students by implementing InteDashboard, an all-in-one TBL platform. By leveraging a comprehensive platform that provides a centralized location for all TBL modules, tracks real-time student progress, and provides enhanced data-driven insights, OUWB was able to improve student learning outcomes.

About Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine

Founded in 2008, the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine is the allopathic medical school for Oakland University, located in Michigan. OUWB is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) and welcomes 125 new medical students to the campus every August, with a total enrollment of nearly 500 students.

Streamlining Team-based Learning classes

Prior to Covid-19 pandemic, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine delivered all TBLs in person using hard copies of RAT questions and application questions, scantrons and Immediate Feedback Assessment Technique (IF-AT) cards. When the pandemic hit, instructors sought an alternative to implement the TBLs virtually. They used websites and learning management systems. However, the process was time-consuming, prompting them to seek a platform that could streamline their Team-based Learning (TBL) classes. OUWB implemented InteDashboard to ease the process and to enable instructors to conduct all TBL modules in a single place.

"It was very, very easy for us. When comparing what we did before, such as using WebEx, Qualtrics, Moodle and others, with what we have now with InteDashboard - it has been really easy for coordinators, instructors and oversight TBL team. Everything is available on one platform," said Dr. Suzan Kamel-ElSayed, Associate Professor in the Department of Foundational Medical Studies.

Team-based Learning in Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine

OUWB integrated Team-based Learning into the preclinical curriculum for medical students in 2012. The TBL class size was initially 50 students, which progressively increased to 125 students over the years. The first and second year medical students participate in 32 TBL sessions annually, with each session lasting two hours.

Prior to each TBL session, students receive prework materials one week in advance. Instructors determine the number of questions for the RATs (individual and team quiz), which typically include five questions. In the first year (M1), students are given 90 seconds to answer each question. However, some students may request additional time to grasp the concepts. By the second year (M2), the allotted time per question is reduced to 70 seconds as the time allotted per each question in the board exams. After the IRAT and TRAT, students engage in application case activities that require them to apply foundational knowledge to real-world situations.

OUWB prioritizes diversity and inclusivity in team formation by gathering non-confidential information about students' gender, experiences, backgrounds, and other relevant factors, and then using a free software to randomize them into teams.

OUWB provides various types of accommodations for students with special needs, such as:

Providing 100% additional time (double time) for each test
Providing 50% additional time for each test
Allowing students to take the test in a private and silent setting

OUWB utilizes InteDashboard to facilitate these accommodations by allowing easy duplication of courses, making necessary time adjustments, and adding a code to these special courses for easy identification and organizational purposes (see images below for examples).

202304_casestudyimage_duplication InteDashboard allows easy duplication of courses.

InteDashboard allows instructors to extend or deduct the time on the IRAT, TRAT, and Application Case activities.

202304_casestudy_codes

InteDashboard allows instructors to add a code to each course, allowing for easy identification and organization of the variations in settings used to support students with accommodation needs.

Team-based Learning with InteDashboard

InteDashboard has made a significant impact on OUWB’s preclinical curriculum for medical students through the platform’s features:

Automated grading: Instructors can view student and team performance data holistically for all team-based learning activities in one place. All team-based activities are auto-graded upon submission.
Real-time dashboard: InteDashboard provides real-time feedback on student performance, enabling instructors to easily identify and address students' trouble spots.
Seamless integration with LMS: InteDashboard allows easy integration with their existing learning management system, Moodle, using Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) integration.

Overall, InteDashboard has helped Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine streamline their TBL classes and enhance student learning outcomes by providing a single platform for all TBL activities. If you are keen to learn more about implementing InteDashboard for your TBL classes, feel free to book a one-on-one consultation with us here.

Testimonials

Dr. Julie M Estis Associate Professor University of South Alabama

"Outstanding tool for face-to-face, web-blended and fully online TBL courses! We've been using InteDashboard across several TBL classes at the University of South Alabama and are consistently impressed with the tool as well as the exceptional support from the team. We look forward to increasing utilization of InteDashboard through our campus-wide project."

Dr. Sandy Cook Emeritus Professor, TBL Consultant, TBLC-APC Committee Chairperson Formerly from Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School

"The administrative challenges behind TBL are often viewed as a major barrier to effective implementation. InteDashboard is the only technological solution that puts it all together, allowing the faculty to focus on creating the learning environment - not fumbling with papers, grading and pulling data from different sources."

Dr. John Chapman Assistant Professor Southern Virginia University

"I'm convinced, and I've done a fair amount of looking over the past few years to identify an online quizzing/survey tool that allows for individual question submission and real-time feedback (especially for the TRAT). InteDashboard really is the premier solution in this category. Bar none. Hands down."

Dr. Jennifer Styron Assistant Professor Eastern Virginia Medical School

"Ability to get real-time data on RAT test items during teaching and save this information (i.e. scores on assessments) has made the tool an essential element to my everyday online teaching."

Dr. Judy Currey Professor Deakin University

"I love having real time access to my students performance data and knowing exactly what concepts have or haven’t been understood while they complete their IRATs and TRATs! InteDashboard has significantly enhanced the ease and effectiveness with which I prepare for, and teach in, my TBL classes at Deakin."

Dr. Tom DeWitt Professor Michigan State University

"Overall, I’ve been really pleased with how InteDashboard has elevated the ability to engage students in Team-based learning."

Victor Holmes Assistant Professor University of North Texas Health Science Center

"The InteDashboard platform is unique in what it offers for educators and learners. The ability to interact, work with the quizzes easily, and general functionality of the program are key features not to miss. I have been able to create a more experiential learning environment allowing learners to immediately dive into experiences that simulate real clinical challenges."

Dr. Sarada Harichand Bulchand Lead Associate Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School

"InteDashboard is a fantastic and very useful platform to conduct classes in a team-based learning setting, probably because it has all the features that team-based learning requires. The features on InteDashboard are so nuanced that they help in enhancing the learning of students, which is the core objective that the educators try to achieve from TBL methodology."

Matthew Robson Senior Learning Designer Macquarie University

"The feature which we find most valuable is the automated grading and item analysis dashboards. They effectively provide staff and students within information that help inform what the clarification session should address. Also, the InteDashboard team provides great support. The team has been responsive to our feedback when we have asked for a possible enhancement to their tool in the past!"

Dr. Chitra Pai Professor Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine

"The support staff was prompt when we were in the initial phase of integrating it into Canvas. It provided the benefits of graded IRAT and TRAT and was really a seamless way to provide active learning in an online environment."

Tanya Bomsta Curriculum Project Manager The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy

"Tech support is great, the software is easy to use and learn, online TBL is awesome (and helpful in this time of the pandemic), and the ability for easy peer review is stellar."

Dr. Grady Campbell Professor Nova Southeastern University

"Student evaluations were higher the semester we used InteDashboard than the previous semesters we held TBL in in-person setting."

Russell Marcus Department Chair & Associate Professor Hamilton College

"The great advantage of InteDashboard is that it is a single platform for RATs, peer evaluation, and 4S activities."

Hillel W. Cohen, Dr.P.H. Professor Associate Director of Curriculum, Clinical Research Training Program Albert Einstein College of Medicine

"InteDashboard allowed a seamless transition from paper-pencil response forms to electronic response."

Michael E. Woods, Ph.D. Associate Professor Pathology & Director of Research Laboratories Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine

"InteDashboard gives me the ability to run online TBLs with ease. The interface is intuitive for faculty and students and matches what we would have done in the classroom."

Paul Mcdermott Senior Lecturer University of East Anglia School of Pharmacy

"I have recommended the product to many people already. It is a very versatile product with features that can be applied across a wide range of pedagogies. I have presented this tool to my school not just as a TBL tool but also a way to collect and analyse MCQ data and as a way to facilitate group learning and peer evaluation."

Steve Schneid Managing Director University of California

"I just want to say I love InteDashboard, and it is an integral part of my teaching!"

Dr. Simon Twedell Professor of Pharmacy Education University of Bradford

"It’s more sustainable now – there's less printing, less admin work, and saves a lot of time."

Dr. Gemma Quinn Associate Professor in Clinical Pharmacy University of Bradford

“InteDashboard has made a huge difference. We could have gone back to the way things were before we started using the software, but it would have been an absolute nightmare. The platform is great – it’s all in one place!”

Dr. Steve Cayzer Director of Studies in Mechanical Engineering University of Bath

"I think the real-time dashboard is just really, really, good. It just works. Recently, I used the histograms and answers feature that you can present to students during the RAT debrief – I found that a very useful way of presenting the results!”

Dr. Zachary Noel Assistant Professor University of Maryland School of Pharmacy

“Because InteDashboard is entirely built for TBL, you don't have to fiddle with a lot of settings and multiple softwares, so that certainly saves time. And now that we're in our third year of using InteDashboard, we're able to copy the activities from the prior years and use those, so that has certainly saved time as well!"

Dr. Suzan Kamel-ElSayed Associate Professor in the Department of Foundational Medical Studies Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine

"It was very, very easy for us. When comparing what we did before using InteDashboard, with what we have now with InteDashboard - it has been really easy for us. Everything is available on one platform!"