Welcome to your Medical Education course - University of Staffordshire

This distance learning course is designed for health and social care practitioners and educators who are involved in teaching/supervision, in some capacity, within their working role.

Medical Education is a crucial and ever-changing dimension of healthcare practice. Professionals need to ensure that their knowledge and skills are up to date to ensure they are equipped to meet the needs of patients or service users. Teaching is a vital tool to ensure knowledge and skills are maintained. The course is thus designed to encourage personal reflection, and evaluation of your own teaching practices within the workplace, which in turn can help you to facilitate the learning of others.

Your staff team

We want to make sure you know some of our team before you arrive. Hopefully this will help you recognise us and ensure you know who you can contact if you need any additional help and guidance.

Dr Edward Tolhurst

Associate Professor

I am a Senior Lecturer and qualitative researcher in the field of dementia, ageing and care. I am based in the Postgraduate team and course leader for the MSc in Medical Education. I am also a member of the University Research Ethics Committee.

Edward's profile

Dr Jessica Runacres

Senior Lecturer

Senior Lecturer in Research Practice in the school of Health, Science, and Wellbeing. Mixed methods researcher, PGR Lead, and PhD Course Lead.

Jessica's profile

Tess Knight

Lecturer / Forensic Practitioner

First activity

A short induction session will be available via MS Teams on Thursday 26 September at 2pm.

Please note, attendance is optional – and the session will be recorded for those who are unable to join at the above time.

First module

Your first module, commencing in September, is Approaches to Teaching and Learning in Healthcare.

Course Delivery

There is no classroom component to the teaching delivery for any of the PgCert modules. Students can address the learning materials at a time that suits them. However. the course leader will be available for tutorials on MS Teams when required.

Introductory Reading

Ashton, S. & Stone, R. (2021) An A-Z of Creative Teaching in Higher Education. London: Sage.

Aubrey, K. & Riley, A. (2018) Understanding and Using Educational Theories. London: Sage.

Harden, R. & Laidlaw, J. (2021) Essential Skills for a Medical Teacher: An introduction to teaching and learning in medicine. Edinburgh: Elsevier.

Swanwick, T. et al (2018) Understanding Medical Education: Evidence, theory, and practice. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.

Progression

Students will be provided information and guidance on progression from the PgCert to the MSc.

Academic skills

Whether you're joining us from school or college, or you're returning to education after some time away, everyone can benefit from the Academic Study Skills resources provided by the University library.

The Academic Skills team is here to support you throughout your academic journey and to help you gain the skills you need to reach your full potential. They can assist with academic reading and writing skills, give advice on how best to plan assignments, and help improve your time management.

The library's Academic Skills Guides offer the key information to make studying easier and give a comprehensive guide to the learning resources and services we offer.

Staffs CampusConnect

Staffs CampusConnect is our student-led community app for new students. Connect with other people from your course, hometown or country, and even those with similar interests.

To register, please ensure you use your Applicant ID (Student Number) that you received in your offer letter, and the email address you used in your application to us.

Register for CampusConnect

Welcome website

Our welcome website will provide you the link to your new student life. It's all about how you find your place at university, including everything from how to meet friends, feel confident in doing your academic work, being a member of your Student Union and getting involved in Union Societies, Academic Societies, Sports, Volunteering or representing your peers in your School.

Part of this Welcome Week - we have an exciting program of University and course level activities planned for you for your first week in September. We are also building an extended program for you to join a series of events throughout the first half of the autumn term. Further details will be shared with you via the Welcome website and Students' Union pages over the coming weeks.

Welcome website

Check your email

Please make sure you check your personal email account regularly over the next few weeks. We will be sending you lots of information about Welcome Week.

We look forward to welcoming you to the course in September.

If you have any questions, please send them to Dr Edward Tolhurst: e.tolhurst@staffs.ac.uk