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Module

MEE8080 : Advanced Study Module (Full-Time Delivery)

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Bryan Burford
  • Lecturer: Dr Sophie Hill, Dr David Thewlis, Dr Gwyndaf Roberts, Dr Kye Mon Min Swe, Dr Fiona Clarke, Ms Poongothai Shanmugaraja, Dr Emma Black, Dr Anusia Sivaratnam
  • Deputy Module Leader: Dr Sonia Bussey
  • Owning School: School of Medical Education
  • Teaching Location: Off Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 10
Semester 2 Credit Value: 10
Semester 3 Credit Value: 40
ECTS Credits: 30.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

To provide an opportunity for clinicians to explore, via appropriate enquiry approaches or other techniques of advanced scholarship, a topic that is of special interest or particular professional relevance.

Summary:
This module provides the opportunity for students to undertake an independent, self-directed project on a medical education topic of personal interest and relevance, supported by a dissertation supervisor. The end product will be a dissertation that synthesises information to offer a new perspective on the topic of study.

Outline Of Syllabus

Generic content - Designing protocols, writing inquiry goals, acting ethically whilst conducting educational studies, constructing and writing a dissertation.

Specific content - Determined by student and the type of enquiry the student chooses to do for their advanced study.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion1200:00200:00Preparatory work for assessment
Guided Independent StudyDirected research and reading142:0028:00Online interactive content
Guided Independent StudyDirected research and reading42:008:00Used in conjunction with scheduled on-line group discussions
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesWorkshops12:002:00Seminar session using virtual classroom
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDrop-in/surgery10:000:00Open access discussion forum: voluntary
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDrop-in/surgery11:001:001-2-1 tutorials online
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDissertation/project related supervision121:0012:00One-to-one supervision
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study1343:00343:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesScheduled on-line contact time41:306:00Scheduled online discussion. Used to develop study ideas & proposals
Total600:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The majority of this module is self-directed learning with support from a project supervisor. This approach is appropriate for the level of independence in learning and subject specialisation required by this module.

The online content early in semester one will equip the students with the generic skills that they will require to start their project. The seminar presentations at the end of semester two will give the students experience of presenting their studies to other academics.

Optional present-in-person study day (repeated and recorded online) will be offered. Although this is an online programme, there may be additional opportunities to attend optional on campus events. For any on campus opportunity an online equivalent session will also be offered.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Dissertation3M100Submission of a dissertation (12,000-13,000 words) - small-scale empirical research, literature-based study, or evaluation.
Zero Weighted Pass/Fail Assessments
Description When Set Comment
Research proposalMSubmission of dissertation proposal (2,000 words). If proposal is deemed unacceptable, candidates will be required to resubmit.
Formative Assessments

Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.

Description Semester When Set Comment
Written exercise1MProposed enquiry - A4 page outlining idea and rationale for choice. Feedback before first group session to refine original ideas.
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The students initially submit a dissertation proposal. This is a formative assessment, but students are required to have it approved in order to start data collection for their project. If the proposal is deemed unacceptable, they are able to resubmit it as many times as necessary. Dissertation supervisors are assigned only when the proposal has been approved.

As part of the proposal, students must include their application for University ethical approval, and also a completed form to submit to the School of Medical Education's Research Management Group for approval. Data collection cannot begin until both forms of approval have been obtained.

The dissertation will be either a literature-based enquiry, focused on specific research questions that can be answered by critical analysis of-existing literature; or an educational evaluation, focused on investigating an aspect of practice within their work context by setting enquiry goals, collecting data and relating their findings to broader educational framework; or a small-scale empirical research project.

This academic enquiry will demonstrate the student’s ability to design, conduct educational investigations and evaluate his/her own work and its place within current professional knowledge.

Reading Lists

Timetable