From Passive Listeners to Active Learners: Changing Student Preferences in Small Group Learning for the MBBS Curriculum.

The shift toward student-centered learning in medical education has become increasingly apparent in recent years, particularly in small group learning (SGL) within the MBBS curriculum. Traditionally, SGL has been teacher-led, but data from three polls conducted across three MBBS batches (2019, 2022, and 2023) highlight a notable shift in student preferences toward more active learning methods. While the 2019 batch overwhelmingly favored teacher-led explanations, the 2022 and 2023 batches showed a growing preference for self-directed learning, with "Self-reading and Doubt Clearing" becoming the most popular mode by 2023.