Introducing syndicates as a teaching learning technique in first professional MBBS students

• Author Details:   
• Neha Uppal ^*
• Sahiba Kukreja
• Jaskiran Kaur
• Amandeep Kaur
• Anju Sharma

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Introduction: Interaction between the tutor and the pupils becomes the bedrock and keystone of active
small group learning medical school sessions. These sessions have been corroborated to surpass didactic
lectures in a large class at enhancing critical thought process thus carving out attitudes and values essential
for a medical graduate. The core skills of questioning, listening, responding and explaining are better
manifested in a small group discussion technique. Various facilitating technologies such as thinking time,
buzz groups, syndicates etc impassion students to discuss and improve understanding. Syndicates is a
novel peer group teaching learning tool which may help modifying students behavior and leads to enhanced
grasping of content as compared to traditional methods.
Objectives: The Objective of the present study is to sensitize the faculty and introduce syndicates in the
Department of Biochemistry, SGRDIMSAR, Sri Amritsar.
Materials and Methods: The present interventional study was conducted in the Department of
Biochemistry, SGRDIMSAR, Amritsar after obtaining the prior approval of the institutional ethical
committee. A total of 115 students were involved in the present study. The study was done in two different
Batches (Batch A and Batch B) on two different occasions. They were divided into 3 groups (Each group
having one Facilitator). To begin with the study the faculty was sensitized for Syndicate method of learning.
At the end of the session, two students from each group compile and taught their topics to rest of the two
batches on behalf of their group. A semi-structured feedback questionnaire including both open and closed
ended questions was filled by the students. It was followed by Focus group discussion (FGD) of the Faculty.
These were statistically analyzed to evaluate the perception of faculty and students for syndicate method of
small group learning.
Results: After the conduction of Syndicates session, most of the students opined that these type of sessions
help them understand better, learn better from their peers, gave laid back students a chance to present and
wanted such sessions more frequently for various dry and difficult topics.
Conclusion: Syndicate groups can make learning experience more interesting; create many chances for
creative exchange of ideas and lead to better retention of knowledge as compared to teacher oriented
methods. Overall it was a satisfactory erudition for the first professional medical graduates.

Keywords: Syndicates, Small Group Learning, Biochemistry Curriculum, Innovative teachinglearning methods.