Are Holen, MD, PhD (center) discusses his research with Linda Olson, EdD; Kurt Borg, PhD, and other UND educators

Are Holen, MD, PhD, an educational expert on group behavior and dynamics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology at Trondheim, discussed his research with faculty and staff members at the UND medical school recently. Holen has conducted several in-depth studies on problem-based and small-group learning which have been published in professional journals, including Medical Teacher.

Holen was invited to give UND medical education specialists insight into his experience and knowledge about group dynamics and the small-group discussion process, the backbone of the UND medical school’s patient-centered learning (PCL) program.

With his background in psychiatry and psychology, “Dr. Holen is very attuned to group dynamics,” says Linda Olson, EdD ’96 (Teaching and Learning), director of special projects in the Office of Medical Education at the UND medical school, Grand Forks. “He has developed an instrument that encourages students to give honest feedback to each other and initiate open dialogue about how the group functions.”

It’s essential that students learn how to give productive and honest feedback because “in the real world, that’s what they have to do,” she says.

A well-functioning group has been shown to have a positive influence on learning, she notes. “His research has shown a correlation between student’s individual academic success with how highly they have scored their group functioning. Students who rate their group highly perform better on national medical board examinations.”

Holen’s visit is part of an exchange program the school has developed with the Norwegian medical school for students and faculty to strengthen mutually beneficial partnerships.  Plans are in place for a follow-up visit by Holen to continue discussion and implementation of his ideas for student self-reflection and feedback for improved learning and growth.