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Welcome from the Programme Director

Welcome to the PGCert Healthcare Education Programme. We are delighted that you will be joining us in the 2024-2025 academic year, and we very much look forward to seeing you in September. Please navigate around the site carefully to access key information. We will be sending further information via email in due course.

- Dr Helen Bilton, PGCert Healthcare Education Programme Director.

 

Programme Contacts:


Study Support day

This is a compulsory session and will involve learning about: the outline of the programme, expectations and systems, writing for social sciences, and information skills you didn’t think you needed. This will set you up to study at Masters level at the University of Reading. You will also then be familiar with the campus and building you will be taught in throughout the year, collect campus cards, get to know each other and be ready to start the first module. This study support day will be as follows: 

  • Date: Thursday 26 September 2024
  • Time: 9:00 - 17:00
  • Venue: Whiteknights Campus, Earley Gate, Agriculture (Building 59 on map), Room 1L06

    There is nothing for you to prepare for this day other than ensuring you have applied and enrolled.

Parking
Parking at the University is extremely limited and the University advise against driving to and parking on campus where possible. However, if you need to use a car, there is a car park (£10 per day) which is then a 20 minute walk to the teaching base.  You can apply for a permit but permits are not guaranteed. Caring responsibilities, disability, lack of of public transport can be reasons as to why a permit may be given. If you wish to apply for a permit we recommend doing this as soon as possible as there is a deadline. You can find guidance on criteria for campus parking and evidence required. 
We appreciate this can be difficult for those of you who are working, find out more about parking and alternative ways to reach us. 

 

Tasks to complete before the start of the programme

Admissions tasks

  • Apply to the University of Reading:  Refer to the admissions guidance you were sent with the acceptance confirmation letter you received from Helen Bilton and Andrew Jacques. 
  • Accept your University of Reading offer:  after you have submitted your application you will receive an offer email from the University of Reading Admissions Team and this will tell you how to accept your place.  Please check for any conditions attached to your offer (such as requests for copies of certificates, passports or immigration status share codes) and send the documents to pgadmissions@enquiries.reading.ac.uk
  • Complete online enrolment:  After you have accepted your offer and fulfilled any conditions you will be sent further enrolment information and instructions.  This will be sent to you when enrolment opens in the third week of August.
  • Please note that you will not be able to start the programme unless you complete the application and enrolment process.

Pre-programme tasks

Disability Advisory Service (DAS)

  • Students with disabilities, specific learning differences or long-term medical or mental health conditions can register with the Disability Advisory Service to receive information, advice and guidance. You can find information on the Essentials website about some of the possible adjustments that could be discussed with a Disability Advisor. 

Staff Student Partnership Group (SSPG)

  • Our Staff Student Partnership Group is made up of staff and students which enables students to make a meaningful contribution to quality assurance and to enhancing teaching and learning and the student experience. We have three reps (one each from the professional groups). Please have a think about whether you would like to take on a role like this. We have 3 one hour meetings across the year where you can let us know about the programme and where we address issues raised. The time commitment is not onerous. 

Tasks to complete before the first module, EDM186,starts on Tuesday 1 October 2024, at 9:00-17:00 in 1L06, Agriculture, Whiteknights Campus. 

  • Watch this simulation and consider the players involved, what character traits do they need to ensure success for this patient and to get the most from this educational scenario?  What character traits does the educator need to ensure success for those involved in the simulation? Please make notes as you will be expected to share your thoughts on the first taught day
  • Watch this simulation debrief - what strikes you as surprising from what those involved say? Do write your thoughts down ready to share on the first taught day

Please bear in mind that this programme will be quite different in terms of style and content from much of the learning you may have encountered before and may take a while to get used to. This is because the practice of medicine draws upon disciplines in the physical sciences (e.g. biology, anatomy, chemistry). By contrast, education is a practice which draws upon disciplines from the social sciences (e.g. psychology, sociology, history). This difference has given rise to differences in learning intentions, teaching style and forms of assessment:

 
 
  

Physical sciences
 
  

Social sciences
 
 
 

Based on factual data
 
 

Based on observations or what people have said
 
 
 

Measurements of physical phenomena (e.g. blood pressure)
 
 

Measurements of viewpoints (e.g. how many people thought this?)
 
 
 

The best way of doing something can be proven clinically
 
 

The ‘best way’ of doing something will depend upon the political and cultural situation
 
 
 

You can show your understanding by being tested on factual retention of information
 
 

You can show your understanding by providing an argument which shows awareness of the relevant issues.
 
 
 

Teaching is about imparting information in a way that helps students retain as much of it as easily as possible.
 
 

Teaching is about sharing and deepening cultural, ethical and political viewpoints so that students have a sophisticated grasp of the issues.
 
 
 

In professional preparation, the focus is on training to carry out tasks efficiently and knowledgeably
 
 

In professional preparation, the focus is on education to practice in a reflective and inclusive way
 
 
 

Writing brief and factual bullet points is best (I.e. a report)
 
 

Writing a well-supported discussion is best (I.e. a critical argument)
 
 
 

80% means you got 8 out of 10 questions factually right
 
 

80% means that you provided an argument that was persuasive and convincing.
 
 
 

The benefit of this course is that I can now do this specific procedure which I could not do before. I went and did it the next day
 
 

The benefit of this course is that my understanding of the holistic aims and processes of education has deepened. This is likely to affect my practice in a pervasive but more gradual way

With these differences in mind, we will therefore be asking you to be prepared to:

  • Work in many different groups during the sessions, discussing key ideas and listening to viewpoints which might differ from your own

  • Continue to reflect on the learning from the taught days and complete the additional and independent work linked to each taught day.

  • Have patience with the pedagogical approach and ‘trust the process.’