ICML 2009: Continuing Education: Consenting adults: making the most of small group interactions

Presenter/s: Mr Andrew Booth, School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield

Biography: Andrew Booth is an information professional/researcher with experience of a wide range of aspects of evidence based practice. He has worked in health information for 25 years, most recently at the School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield where he is Director of Information Resources. His current brief is to develop research intelligence services within the University and surrounding region. Andrew is Reader in Evidence Based Information Practice and teaches Systematic Reviews and Critical Appraisal on the Masters in Public Health programme. Andrew is one of the most experienced trainers in critical appraisal in the UK having been a frequent tutor at week-long courses in Durham and in Oxford. For the last six years he has led a team that teaches critical appraisal in conjunction with the British Medical Association Library. Andrew has a particular interest in all aspects of small group teaching.

Session: Increasingly librarians are required to get involved in small group participation and instruction. This course aims to equip participants with the skills and confidence to facilitate local small group sessions.

Objectives

At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Understand the importance and characteristics of effective facilitation
• Utilise some basic approaches for breaking the ice/energising a group
• Describe a range of techniques used to facilitate small group interaction
• Outline a variety of strategies for overcoming challenges in small group working
• Evaluate their own role and contribution to a small group environment