A New Blended Virtual Learning
Environment Communication Skills
Course for Higher Specialist Medical
Trainees in East Midlands School of
Medicine North
Why a new course?
• Time pressures
• Full study leave programme
• Essential component of generic curriculum
New course
• On line VLE programme – available one
month before the face to face day
• 3 facilitators
• One day face to face role play
• Pilot September 2011
Format of VLE Course
• Enrolment key to access
• Confidentiality within the course
• Development of group bonding
VLE Course
• Presentation
• Communication scenario videos
• Quiz
• Discussion forum
VLE Course
• Establishment of on line ‘community’
• Discussion of concerns and experiences
• Creation of own challenging scenario to
role play
Format of Role Play Day
• Course members divided into two groups
• Each participant has to complete a role
play
• Selection of a challenging scenario
• Key learning highlighted at the end of the
day
Course Pilot
• Eight SpRs – different specialities
• 2 facilitators
• 2 actors/ simulators
Course Completion
• Work place based assessment within 4
months of the course
• Certificate
• Evaluation
Evaluation
• ‘great course, please stick to small groups’
• ‘day was tailored to our needs’
• ‘definitely something we encounter on a
daily basis in clinical practice’
• ‘so many of these skills are generic it is
still relevant to everyone and every grade’
The Way Forward
• Interactive on-line course replacing
traditional face to face teaching
• Roll out of course - 5 planned over 2012
• Evaluate! Evaluate! Evaluate!
Any questions?