TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS TEACHING IN VETERINARY MEDICINE - 2023/4
Module code: GCAM013
Module Overview
As the veterinary profession becomes increasingly aware of the "3Rs" (replace, reduce, reuse) and welfare issues, the use of animals in procedures for teaching that are not for their benefit is increasingly hard to justify. Therefore there is increasing need for better models for teaching technical skills without the use of animals.
Most complaints made against practicing veterinarians are not due to knowledge or skill levels rather to inadequacies in client communications. The development of client relationships based on a partnership model for animal care rather than a more paternalistic approach to client interactions means that more emphasis needs to be placed on effective communications with the veterinary client.
The module contains a critical review of the types of models and simulations that can be used in technical skills training without the use of animals. It also discusses the types of communications training currently used in veterinary schools, methods of implementing this training and goals of the training, and its effectiveness.
Module provider
Surrey Institute of Education
Module Leader
TRACE Christopher (Sy Inst Educ)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 7
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Overall student workload
Independent Learning Hours: 122
Seminar Hours: 7
Module Availability
Semester 2
Module content
Technical skills training models:
- Classification of models from low to high fidelity and why we would use them
- What is a haptic model? – benefits and disadvantages
- Surgical training models – use, utility and effectiveness
- Reproductive training models – use, utility and effectiveness
- Venepuncture and injection models – use, utility and effectiveness
Communication skills:
- What is meant by relationship¿centred and paternalistic medicine?
- What is the importance of four key communication skills: non¿verbal skills, open¿ended enquiry, reflective listening, empathy and recognize relationship-centred and paternalistic communication styles in medicine
- What are the different types of non¿verbal cues, including kinesics, proxemics, paralanguage and autonomic changes, witnessed in interpersonal interactions
- Understand the key skills in, and the stages of, the Calgary-Cambridge framework and the order in which they occur
Teamwork:
- Successful teams in a healthcare environment, methods of conflict resolution and core team communication skills
Assessment pattern
Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
---|---|---|
Coursework | ONLINE ASSESSMENT 1 (750 WORDS) | 20 |
Coursework | ONLINE ASSESSMENT 2 (750 WORDS) | 20 |
Coursework | ONLINE ASSESSMENT 3 (750 WORDS) | 20 |
Coursework | ONLINE ASSESSMENT 4 (750 WORDS) | 20 |
Coursework | PEER ASSESSMENT | 20 |
Alternative Assessment
N/A
Assessment Strategy
The assessment strategy ensures that students are able to meet all of the learning outcomes. All the assessment tasks are aimed at helping the participants better understand how to apply the principles learned and use of models to their own clinical teaching practice and to reduce the use of animals in teaching.
Summative Assessment
Four Writte Online Assignments – 80%
There will be four assignments. The topics of the assignments will draw on the online seminars from which the participants will have a choice for their assignment submissions. Each assignment will be expected to be about 750 words.
Students will have to choose from a group of assessments that ensures they meet LO1-3, that is, as least one to cover to each Learning Outcome (LO).
Some example of these assessments for the different Learning Outcomes are:
LO1&3:
Evaluate and reflect on the use and implementation of any of the following possible tools for technical skills training within your veterinary practice using appropriate criteria:
- Introduction to technical skills models – haptics, low fidelity, high fidelity
- Surgical training models
- Reproductive training models
- Venepuncture training models
LO2&3
Critically appraise any of the following communications training methods available for veterinary training and reflect on how this may influence your teaching and learning practice
- Communications skills – verbal and nonverbal
- Calgary-Cambridge model of interview
- Team dynamics and conflict resolution in clinical practice
The assignments will be due in weeks 5, 7, 9 and 11 or 13 depending on the topics chosen by the participant, that is, approximately 3 weeks after covering the topic.
Peer Assessment
Active Participation in and contribution to discussion fora assessed by their peers via a rubric (LO2) – 20 %
Module aims
- Provide a critical overview of the technical skills training models available for the veterinary student and their effectiveness
- Review the current use of haptics and simulators in veterinary training
- Provide an overview of the communications training tools and methods available for veterinary consultation training and their effectiveness
Learning outcomes
Attributes Developed | ||
001 | Critically evaluate possible tools e.g. haptics and simulators for technical skills training within the veterinary practice using appropriate criteria e.g. the 3Rs | KCP |
002 | Critically appraise the communications training methods available for veterinary training including peer assessment | KCPT |
003 | Critically reflect on how the implementation of possible tools may affect your pedagogical practice | KCP |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Methods of Teaching / Learning
- Online seminars for each major topic above
- Guided online guided discussion groups after the online seminars and feedback
- Written submitted assignments on four of the topics of the online seminars and feedback
Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.
Reading list
https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: GCAM013
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2023/4 academic year.