Activities
The LIVE team includes professors, lecturers, research fellows, research assistants, e-Learning developers, software developers, communication specialists and e-Learning specalists working with colleagues within the RVC and beyond to further educational development and research in veterinary medicine and related fields.
Current Research Projects
Our research projects are many and varied but all are focussed on understanding and developing past, present and future practice in teaching and learning in the veterinary sciences and allied disciplines. For example, Sarah Baillie has combined her expertise in veterinary medicine and computer programming to develop haptic simulators for clinical skills training and Vicki Dale has been using educational theory to investigate the student perception of our newly developed BVetMed curriculum. Further details on all of our major research projects can be found to the right of this screen.
Driving Educational Research
We are always at hand to provide support and guidance for the development of your own research projects. Please see the People section for information on individual research expertise or contact the LIVE Centre manager to be directed to the appropriate person. We also support staff in educational research and development via the LIVE Teaching Development Fund (formerly Jim Bee Team Prizes). Four projects are selected annually, each receiving funds of up to £10,000. We can also provide you with information on other external sources of funding as and when required (see e.g. MeDeV).
Educational Training Programmes
The Royal Veterinary College is dedicated to excellence in teaching and learning and as such, all academic staff are encouraged to continue their development through both internal staff training and development courses and enrolment in accredited educator training programmes. Experienced educators can simply visit the HEA website and go through the self-accreditation process. All other staff will usually enrol in a post-graduate educator training programme. We currently endorse the Kings Learning Institute (KLI) PGCAP and the University of Bedfordshire (UoB) PGCERT.
The KLI PGCAP Programme takes place at the Waterloo Bridge Campus, Southbank, London with October and January enrolment streams. The taught component of the programme consists of a two day introductory conference and eleven seminar sessions. In-course assessment includes an extended essay, a teaching portfolio and three separate teaching observations.
The UoB PGCERT Programme takes place at the Putteridge Bury Campus, Luton, Bedfordsire and runs from either October (6 months to completion) or January (12 months to completion). The taught component is covered by two units: Medical Education in Practice and Contemporary Perspectives in Medical Education. Assessment is via a teaching portfolio, reflective essay and teaching observations (tutor and peer-to-peer).
To enrol on either programme please contact Sylvia Sidoli.
Starting in September 2009 - MSc in Veterinary Education
We will be launching the first stage of the MSc in Veterinary Education for staff with prior HEA/PGCERT or PGCAP accreditation. The main objective of the programme will be to provide the knowledge and education to underpin the conceptual basis of Veterinary Education to be proficient in the skills, practices and attitudes of a competent Veterinary teacher. The MSc VetEd will offer training in educational theory and practice for anyone involved in veterinary and para-veterinary education (e.g. lecturing staff, Post- doctoral workers, PhD students, clinical educators and technical teaching staff). This will be a flexible programme of study targeted at both new and experienced staff with multiple entry routes and alternative progression pathways.
The first module of the PG Diploma will start on the 9th September. It will be a 15-credit module which is entitled ‘Enhancing teaching and learning with technology’ it will focus on the principles behind effective use of readily available technologies to enhance learning. Three other modules will follow this initial module under the PG Diploma qualification.
Within the MSc programme, we aim to offer a wide range of modules including: Veterinary Education in Practice, Contemporary Perspectives in Veterinary Education, Enhancing Teaching and Learning with Technology, Teaching the basic sciences in a clinical context, Assessment, Feedback and Learning, Skills - communication and clinical, Clinical reasoning and patient based teaching, Small group teaching, Lecturing and large group teaching, Integrated curriculum design and practice, Educational research methods – Qualitative and Quantitative and Evidence based Veterinary Education.
For further details please contact Lucy Jackson or Ayona Silva-Fletcher