Study Day Information

Module 2 - MDE61003 Work Based Learning & Teaching

Module 3 - MDE61002 Programme Design

Venue

Firth Hall, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN

Parking

Parking is very limited in and around central campus. If you are able to use public transport Supertram Park & Ride would be the easier option and would drop you on West Street a very short walk away from the venue. If you do need to drive then please follow this link for the nearest parking. Please leave plenty of time to find parking and arrive at your venue before the start time of your session.

Food & Drink

There are plenty of outlets within a short walk of the venue and at breaks you will be able to go to these. Alternatively bring all your own refreshments for the day.

Attendance

We view the study days as the heart of the ‘taught’ element of the programme and a place where our community is largely made. We will ask you to sign a register at all of these events as the University do ask for all attendance to be reported online after each session. All taught study days are compulsory.

Although this is a one-year course you will be registered for a maximum of two years as this is the maximum amount of time you have to complete the course. The minimum length of study does not include time out for official absence (which must be applied for through the official channels). Any request for a LOA will require official university documentation, you may be required to provide documentation to back up your request for any such request for a Leave of Absence.

If you anticipate that you are going to fall behind, or indeed have done so, for whatever reason, or have other concerns regarding your general progress, please contact the administrator for advice.

Learning Environment

We use a ‘blend’ of face to face study days and on-line activities (via Blackboard) to ‘deliver’ your programme. In line with our educational philosophy, we see these two kinds of spaces as being where we ‘co-construct’ the content and meaning of the three modules that comprise the PG Cert in Medical Education. We ask that you be an active and curious participant in each, welcoming the change of disciplinary environment. We provide a series of activities, tasks and processes which are designed to give you access to the Learning Outcome of each module and, where appropriate, to ‘pick up’ some ideas/skills to add to your teacher repertoire. We will also be running both the face to face study days and the on-line activities in a way that will give you the chance to interact with fellow participants and as well programme materials. We view the study days and the preliminary readings associated with these as a chance to introduce ideas and begin to develop them. We see the on-line activities as consolidating those ideas, deepening understanding through targeted reading and beginning the process of preparing a submission for assessment. Opportunities for those seeking clarification of key learning and assessment points will be given in both learning environments.

Preparing for Study Days

We say more in the section ‘Assessment Requirements’ about preparing your submission. However, we recognise that most of you will want to start this process well before the formalities of assessment begin. We see the processes of preparation for and the following up being partly determined by you. Prior to the study days we will signpost particular readings and things we might ask you to bring to the study days such as a recent example of a teaching session that perplexed you. Beyond that, the approach and choices are yours. Your reading after the study days will be driven by which aspects of your work as teacher, assessor and curriculum developer you choose to focus in on. We say more about this in the following paragraph.

Following Up on Study Days

We recommend that you spend time exploring the module-specific readings on Blackboard as a way of extending and deepening the topics/themes shared on the study days or anchor your thinking in one of the core texts. This is very much a personal choice. Your reading and research beyond this point will be very much driven by your teaching experience and what you might focus on in your assignment. You might also set the readings aside and concentrate on recalling/re-thinking specific teaching and learning episodes. You could then apply one of the reflective models (e.g. Tripps’s thinking on critical reflections), working back ‘towards’ the literature. You are free to email module leads/tutors if you have particular questions as your research proceeds.