‘It’s not just what you do; it’s the way that you do it.’ Groupwork and the dental career journey

Pam Word

doi:10.1921/gpwk.v18i2.643

Authors

Pam Word

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1921/gpwk.v18i2.643

Keywords:

groupwork, enquiry-based learning, dentists, career development, organisational literacy

Abstract

Group learning, as a key aspect of Enquiry–based Learning (EBL), is central to the philosophy of the dental school where the author, a practising dentist, is a part-time EBL Facilitator. From the very outset of their training, the students enter into learning groups. This paper will consider the influence, impact and significance of their experience of working in a small groups and their implicit learning about groups and groupwork which the author perceives as arising from it. The paper will trace the development of this learning and its application and impact from the initial stage in the dental school through significant stages of dentists’ careers, as they progress from being ‘novice’ students to becoming ‘expert’ professionals with responsibilities both as clinicians and, in a multidisciplinary work context, as team members and team leaders.

References

Aluwihare, A. (2006) Teams and surgery. Bulletin of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 88, 3, 82-83 <a target="_blank" href='http://lithgow-schmidt.dk/ sherry-arnstein/ladder-of-citizen-participation.html on 21/09/08'>http://lithgow-schmidt.dk/ sherry-arnstein/ladder-of-citizen-participation.html on 21/09/08</a>\nArnstein, S. (1969) A Ladder of Citizen Participation, Journal of the American Institute of Planners, 35, 4, 216-224. accessed on http://lithgow-schmidt.dk/ sherry-arnstein/ladder-of-citizen-participation.html on 21/09/08\nBaldwin, M. (2008) Generating knowledge for practice through participative action-research: the case of social workers and direct payments, Paper presented at the 10th UK Joint Social Work Education Conference, Cambridge, 9th – 11th July\nBerger, R. (1997-98) Using group work to empower returning students, Groupwork 10, 1, 21-29\nBerteau, G. and Villeneuve, L. (2006) Integration of the learning process and the group development process in group supervision, Groupwork 16, 2, 43-60\nBrown, A. (1994) Groupwork in Britain, in C. Hanvey and T. Philpot (Eds.) Practising Social Work, London: Routledge (pp.35-49)\nBruce, M. (2005) Assessment within a values-based curriculum pilot in dental vocational training, VT Newsletter, October, 2\nBurgess, H. and Taylor, I. (1995) Facilitating Enquiry and Action Learning: Groups for social work education, Groupwork, 8, 2, 117-133\nButler, S. and Wintram, C. (1991) Feminist Groupwork. London: Sage\nCOPDEND (Committee of Postgraduate Dental Deans and Directors) (2006) A Curriculum for UK Dental Foundation Programme Training. Sheffield: COPDEND\nDental Vocational Training Authority (2003) Curriculum, quality, assessment: A consultation paper on dental vocational training in the NHS GDS. Eastbourne: DVTA\nde Ronde, M (2008) The Last Amateurs: To Hell and back with the Cambridge Boat Race crew. Thriplow, Cambs: Icon Books. (as reported during Radio 4 discussion)\nDearing, R. (1997) Higher Education in the Learning Society, Report of the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education. London: HMSO\nDewey, J. (1938) Experience and Education. New York: Collier Books\nDouglas, T. (1976) Groupwork Practice. London: Tavistock\nEva, K. (2002) Teamwork during education: the whole is not always greater than the sum of the parts. Medical Education, 36, 314-316\nEveritt, A., Hardiker, P., Littlewood, J., and Mullender, A. (1992) Applied Research for Better Practice, Basingstoke: Macmillan\nExley, K. and Denniick, R. (2004) Small Group Teaching: Tutorials, seminars and beyond. Abingdon: RoutledgeFalmer\nFarbey, R. (2008) Business Bite (a review of Gratton’s book ‘Hot Spots’) bdanews, 21, 3, 25\nFlynn, N. (1997) Public Sector Management. London: Harvester Wheatsheaf\nGeneral Dental Council (2002) The First Five Years. (2nd ed.) London: GDC\nGeneral Dental Council (2005) Standards Guidance: Standards for dental professionals. London: GDC\nGeneral Dental Council (2006) Standards Guidance: Principles of dental team working. London: GDC\nGeneral Dental Council (2008) Standards Guidance: Principles of management responsibility. London: GDC\nGratton, L. (2007) Hot Spots: Why some companies buzz with energy and innovation and – others don’t. Harlow: Pearson Education\nJacobs, R. (2002) Institutionalising organisational change through cascade training. Journal of European Industrial Training, 26, 177-182\nKay, E. and Nutall, N. (1995) Clinical decision making: An art or a science? British Dental Journal, 178, 113-116\nKitzinger, J. (1994) The methodology of Focus Groups: the importance of interaction between research participants. Sociology of Health and Illness, 16, 1, 103-121\nKolb, D. (1984) Experiential Learning: Experience as a source of learning and development. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall\nLambert-Humble, S. (2003) Professionals complementary to dentistry. in P.Rothwell (Ed.) Pathways in Practice. (Vol. 2) London: Faculty of General Dental Practitioners (UK) (29.10-29.12)\nLee, J. (1991) Empowerment through mutual aid groups: a practice grounded conceptual framework. Groupwork, 4, 1, 5-21\nLewin, K. (1951) Frontiers in group dynamics. Human Relations, 1, 5-41\nMcHarg, J. and Kay, E. (2008) The anatomy of a new dental curriculum. British Dental Journal, 204, 635-638\nMullender, A. and Ward, D. (1991) Self-directed Groupwork: Users take action for empowerment. London: Whiting and Birch\nMullender, A. and Ward, D. (1993). The role of the consultant in self-directed groupwork. Social Work with Groups, 16, 4, 57-80\nNettleton, S. (1992) Power, Pain and Dentistry. Buckingham: Open University Press\nO’Sullivan, T. (2005) Some theoretical propositions on the nature of practice wisdom. Journal of Social Work, 5, 2, 221-242\nPage, M. (1983) Language and community politics. Talking Points No.42. London: Association of Community Workers\nParsloe, P. (1981) Social Services Area Teams. London: Allen and Unwin\nPeninsula Dental School (2008) Peninsula Dental School Strategic Plan. Plymouth: Peninsula Dental School\nPowell, J. (2007) Social Work Research: Establishing distinctiveness in an interdisciplinary context. Paper presented at the 9th UK Joint Social Work Education Conference, Swansea, 11th-13th July 2007\nPriest, N. (2005) VT Assessment, VT. Newsletter, October, 2\nRogers, J. (2001) Adults Learning (4th Edition). Maidenhead: Open University Press\nRughani, A. with Franklin, C. and Dixon, S. (2003) Personal Development Plans for Dentists. Oxford: Radcliffe Medical Press\nSennett, R. (2008) The Craftsman. London: Allen Lane\nSheppard, M., Newstead, S., DiCaccavo, A. and Ryan, K. (2001) Comparative Hypothesis Assessment and Quasi Triangulation as Process Knowledge Assessment Strategies in Social Work Practice. British Journal of Social Work, 31, 6, 863-885\nSchon, D. (1991) The Reflective Practitioner: How Professionals Think in Action. Aldershot: Ashgate\nSchwartz, P., Mennin, S. and Webb, G. (Eds.) (2001) PBL: Case Studies, Experience and Practice. London: Kogan Page\nTate, P. (2002) The Doctor’s Communication Handbook (4th Edition). Oxford: Radcliffe Medical Press\nToynton, R. (2005) Degrees of disciplinarity in equipping mature students in higher education for engagement: Success in life-long learning. Active Learning in Higher Education, 6, 2, 106-117\nTrevithick, P. (2005) The knowledge base of groupwork and its importance within social work. Groupwork, 15, 2, 80-107\nWard, D (2002) Groupwork. in R. Adams, L. Dominelli and M. Payne (Eds.) Social Work: Themes, Issues and critical debates. (2nd ed.) Basingstoke: Palgrave (pp.149-158)\nWard, D. (2008) Personal communication\nWard, D. and Mullender, A. (1991) Facilitation in Self-Directed Groupwork. Groupwork, 4, 1, 141-151\nWard, P. (2006a) The changing skill-mix:Experiences on the introduction of the dental therapist into general dental practice. British Dental Journal, 200, 93-197\nWard, P. (2006b) Managing Change in the Context of Practice Appraisal. Project submitted in partial fulfilment of the award of the FGDP(UK) Certificate in Appraisal of General Dental Practices (unpublished)\nWenger, A. (2008) All for one, The Guardian: Sport, 23rd September 2008, 3\nWenger, E. (1998) Communities of Practice: Learning, Meaning and identity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press\nWood, D.F. (2008) Problem based learning. British Medical Journal, 336, 971\n