UWE improves student learning experience with ScanTrainer
In 2019, University of the West of England granted permission for the publication of this case study, which was developed as part of their research and educational initiatives.
The University of the West of England’s (UWE) Allied Health Professions Department wanted to find an innovative way of using technology to enhance its postgraduate ultrasound programme in a cost-friendly way.
Looking to maximize course learning outcomes
Back in 2012, as pressures grew for universities and hospitals to integrate technology into the way they teach and budgets were strict, the University of the West of England’s (UWE) Allied Health Professions Department was looking for ways that they could utilise technology to enhance their postgraduate ultrasound programme in the most efficient way possible. Dr. Vivien Gibbs, Acting Head of Department, Allied Health Professions
Department, at UWE, explains:
“There were, and still are, increasing pressures on higher education institutions and the NHS to incorporate technology to further improve the student experience and maximise course learning outcomes. This, coupled with the economic climate in which we found ourselves, meant that we needed to look for the most efficient and cost-effective method of delivering our ultrasound programmes now and in the years ahead.”
“ScanTrainer has enabled our students to learn the way they want to, at the pace they need to.”
Taking the pressure off tutors
Vivien and her team began looking for technology solutions that would enable them to improve course delivery and, at the same time, one that would realise an eventual return on investment (ROI). Dr Gibbs explains:
“The simulation market was growing rapidly and it was clear that it would be a complementary addition to our training mix which consisted of both theoretical and
practical approaches. It was evident that simulation could help with procedural training and enable us to provide more practice opportunities for our students. In time, this
would relax the pressure on tutor time and this free time is a key ROI for us.”
Following an in-depth look at the market it was soon decided that ScanTrainer was able to offer the level of teaching, learning and assessment required for now and in the future.
“It was the obvious choice for us,” says Dr Gibbs, “the technology is advanced, the modules are comprehensive and the self-learning element could give both staff and students more freedom and flexibility than ever before.”
“It was the obvious choice for us. The technology is advanced, the modules are comprehensive and the self-learning element give both staff and students more freedom and flexibility than ever before.”
With help from the Intelligent Ultrasound team, Dr Gibbs was able to build a strong business case and secured funding from the University for TVS (transvaginal) and TAS (transabdominal) simulators.
Integrating simulation into the curriculum
The simulators were integrated into the curriculum in 2013 and now form part UWE’s postgraduate ultrasound programme which consists of MSc, Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Ultrasound. Since then ScanTrainer has enabled the University to significantly improve their students’ learning experience, Dr Gibbs explains:
“ScanTrainer has enabled our students to learn the way they want to, at the pace they need to. They have the flexibility to repeat and revisit tasks, self-learn in their own time with real-time guidance from ScanTutor as and when they need. This provides a less stressful learning environment by allowing students time to build up confidence before scanning in a clinical department. In addition, patient safety is improved because students are able to develop skills in a classroom setting before scanning real patients.”
Prior to the ScanTrainer implementation there were limited opportunities for students to encounter the range of pathologies that they’d be expected to cope with once qualified: “ScanTrainer provides students with access to a greater number of different clinical scenarios in a concentrated period of time – preparing them more consistently for what they’ll be faced with in a real clinical environment,” Dr Gibbs continued.
It has also transformed the overall learning experience and been well received by students: “Students have commented that being able to engage dynamically with
images, that would otherwise only have been available in a textbook, provides them with a far superior learning opportunity,” Dr Gibbs continues.
ScanTrainer has taken the pressure off the tutors too: “It’s definitely had a positive impact on us as tutors. We’re now able to focus our efforts on enhancing the other elements of the programme safe in the knowledge that ScanTrainer has the most important skills covered.”
Looking ahead…
UWE’s ScanTrainer journey doesn’t end there; in July 2015 their systems were connected to the cloud which provides added flexibility to both students and tutors. Dr Gibbs
explains:
“Investing in ScanTrainer was about future proofing our course delivery and as it evolves we evolve with it – this is what drove our decision to connect to the cloud. The remote access features and ability to collaborate with other Universities to share resources sounds like an exciting opportunity and something we’re looking forward to exploring further.”
To find out more about how ScanTrainer could help your trainees learn faster and learn better get in touch today.
ScanTrainer offers a unique self-learning scanning experience in OBGYN and general medicine that replicates being taught one-to-one by an expert.
