Developing Negotiated Imaging Modules: The University of Leeds experience Jane Arezina

1. Developing Negotiated Imaging Modules: The University of Leeds experience Jane Arezina

2. Aim of the session • To share our experience in developing negotiated imaging modules in specialist/focussed areas of diagnostic imaging.

3. UoL MSc Diagnostic Imaging Programme • Created by merging existing Breast Imaging and Medical Ultrasound programmes • Preserved the existing high-quality student experience • Increased opportunities for inter-professional learning • Streamlined delivery to ensure programme viability and sustainability

4. Rationale for Restructuring • Accommodate existing and emerging/niche specialists areas of practice • Course and module design to enable students to negotiate learning and assessment on an individual basis • Introduce flexibility and future-proofing

5. Negotiated Modules • Developed in response to increasing service and practitioner demand • Two negotiated imaging practice modules (15 credit and 30 credits options) • Accommodate the increasing number of areas of specialist professional development within Diagnostic Imaging • Enable students to undertake focussed or broader area study in a speciality depending on their individual clinical requirements

6. Specialities currently delivered in NIP and FNIP • Image Guided Interventional Procedures • Breast Ultrasound • Peripheral Vascular Ultrasound • Focussed aspect of a module e.g. First Trimester Obstetric Ultrasound • Not delivered 12-13 but done in past • Musculoskeletal Ultrasound • Cardiac Ultrasound

7. Negotiated Imaging Practice (NIP) and Focussed Negotiated Imaging Practice (FNIP) • Multiple small groups studying a variety of clinical applications • Students negotiate their own learning, teaching and assessment with guidance from the module and strand leaders • Learning, teaching and assessment proposal moderated by Learning Contract Review Panel

8. The collaborative approach Students develop and submit a learning contract outlining their proposed individualised programme Panel of subject specialists (strand leaders) moderate to ensure parity, fairness and academic integrity of learning, teaching and assessment plan. Locates academic control in successful student / tutor partnerships. Clinical partners – Mentors monitor progress and undertake the summative clinical assessment in conjunction with academic from UoL

9. Aim Summarise your overall aim(s) for this module • Justification Explain your reasons for undertaking this module • Knowledge base Provide a list of key literature and resources • Learning objectives Describe what you wish to achieve using 5 or 6 specific ‘knowledge & understanding’ and ‘skill’ outcomes • what do you want to know, understand and / or be able to do, that you do not know / understand / cannot do, now? • Methods Outline a proposed programme of study • how will you be taught? what learning activities will you undertake? • describe in terms of hours / topics and numbers / case mix • how do you want your progress / practice / development of competence to be monitored? • Assessment Design your own assessment schedule • what evidence will you submit (and when) to demonstrate that you are making progress (formative assessment)? • what evidence will you submit (and when) to demonstrate that you have achieved your learning objectives (summative assessment)?

10. Assessment • Students in a sub-group may all be undertaking the same assessment if the learning outcomes are the same for all students; e.g. Breast ultrasound • Assessment within a sub-group may be different if students are studying the same ‘subject’ but in different clinical areas of practice e.g. Image-guided interventional procedures • Use of the School of Healthcare assessment tariff ensures that assessment is equivalent across the module

13. How it works • The negotiated aspects of the programme are not more than 50% of the award • Students without a previous PG imaging qualification need to do a programme of study. This has a minimum of two compulsory modules • Fundamentals of Science and Technology of Diagnostic Imaging • Professional Issues in Diagnostic Imaging • Students with a previous postgraduate (PG) imaging qualification can do these modules for Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

14. Creativity and Innovation in learning and teaching • Embeds the philosophy of student-led learning and teaching • Empowers students to take responsibility for their own learning • Enhanced integration of research and teaching • Motivates students to succeed

15. Student Focussed Learning • The flexibility of NIP/FNIP enables students to be self-directed learners • Negotiate learning to enhance individual clinical skills requirements • Experiential work-based learning enhanced by greater theoretical knowledge • Innovative assessment : negotiated to ensure assesses the individual learning outcomes including clinical competence

16. Problems (challenges) with NIP Co-ordination of information to students Timely administration of negotiated contract process Co-ordination of assessment Presentation of assessment results Transcripts Progression monitoring Multiple ‘versions’ of the module Duplication of learning

17. Outcomes This innovative approach has allowed us to:- Achieve financial viability for specialist modules with low student numbers Maintain an excellent student experience at Leeds Be flexible and responsive to evolving clinical practice.

20. Feedback-March 2011 The MSc Diagnostic Imaging validation panel, including representatives from the Consortium for the Accreditation of Sonographic Education and the College of Radiographers, considered these modules to be excellent, innovative in postgraduate study and a model suitable for integrating research into learning and teaching. ‘‘…the Negotiated Learning modules, which were considered innovative and a model that could be extended to integrating research into learning and teaching’’‘‘This was considered by the panel to be an excellent idea for postgraduate study. ’’

21. Student feedback • ‘Experiential learning enabling linking theory to practice, multidisciplinary team work and communication enhancement’ • ‘Planning the workbased project very useful experience to structure ones own learning’ • ‘Having the scope to do relevant work and change practice’ • ‘Interactive teaching sessions enabled students to glean different practices in different departments and reflect on one’s own departmental processes’

22. Student feedback ‘Excellent module with good content and academic support. Would definitely recommend this to future students’ ‘Interactive discussions enabled different procedures, protocols and practices to be explored’ ‘I feel this has prepared me to perform a range of procedures with confidence and additional knowledge to reflect on in reference to professional guidelines and role extension’

23. Thank you

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