Criticism

NICE Evidence Search Student Champion Scheme:

Evaluating Student-Owned Learning

Teaching Experience

Background Peer-Peer Advice

Evaluation

“Inspiring young people to not only learn themselves, but also to teach peers, provides an opportunity to build confidence in educating others.” “Inspiring young people to not only learn themselves, but also to teach peers, provides an opportunity to build confidence in educating others.”

Method of Delivering Session

Open Learning Environment

Interactivity

Relevance

Understanding audience

Timing

Attendance and Follow-Up

Students recognised the value of actively engaging their peers in the session; among their tools were

quizzes, searches and worksheets

The level of peer-to-peer interaction within a session was frequently remarked upon, with many

students gaining a new appreciation of its importance

“I think I should have formed some kind of summary activity at the end in order to cement some ideas”

Students felt it was important that their peers felt comfortable and able to ask open questions,

providing the opportunity to do so in an informal environment

“Due to the informal nature of the session, students were willing to ask questions”

Students felt that their session worked well when their peers understood why the content of the

session was relevant to their careers and to their course

“I felt everybody was interested...because I made it clear from the beginning how Evidence

Search would help them individually”

Students recognised the need to adapt their sessions based on the prior knowledge of their

peers. They assessed this through surveys or group discussions before the teaching session

“Sending out a pre-session questionnaire…worked well… students were interested in the answer(s) to the question”

Students empathised with the busy timetables of their peers and adjusted the length of their

session accordingly

Students had imaginative methods of encouraging peers to attend their session (including providing sweets!) but also emphasised the importance of

continuing engagement after the session

“It proved popular to deliver a condensed session over around

35 to 40 min rather than split the session up” “I asked each student to email a

feedback report...the only criticism was that the students wish they had known about the site sooner”

“With only access to one computer…I had to ask people to try it out in their own time…if there are any difficulties using the website, then I wouldn’t be

able to help them”

The major problem faced by students was the lack of resources required to facilitate a fully

interactive and guided session

Representatives from the National Institute for Health

and Care Excellence (NICE) were invited to Birmingham

Medical School to introduce the NICE Evidence Search

Student Champion Scheme, a peer-led teaching initiative

delivered by students, for students. The scheme aims to

enhance understanding of Evidence Based Medicine whilst

providing valuable student teaching experience; both skills that are

invaluable to tomorrow’s doctors.

Twenty-six volunteering students were taught how to use the NICE Evidence Search Portal by NICE

Representatives. Students subsequently had to plan

and facilitate a teaching session to a group of between ten and fifteen of their peers in order to pass on what

they had learnt.

Students reflected on what went well and what did not go so well within their teaching sessions. Here, we

qualitatively analyse their responses to highlight key areas of a successful

peer-to-peer teaching session.

“Make your session as fun and interactive as possible to make sure it is memorable and informative for your

colleagues”

“Plan ahead, develop a clear structure to the

presentation otherwise students

won’t be interested...The key is

relevance...Be enthusiastic”

Authors: Loveridge S, Lyon A

Student Reflection

“I warned the group that I would be asking each individual (a question) and looking for a different answer each time…it encouraged them to switch back on and become more involved with the session”