Learning and teaching

Learning and Teaching has been a key area of research and development activity for the division since it was established, and we have made key contributions to the ever increasing body of published evidence around many teaching and learning practices.

We are particularly interested supporting students’ transitions through key stages of their veterinary training, including prior to arrival at vet school, preparation for extramural studies (EMS) placements, and the transition from Final Year Student to New Graduate. We are also passionate about using peer assisted learning methodologies to develop and recognise our students (both undergraduate and postgraduate) as educators of the future, as well as the concept of ‘students as partners’ in research projects to generate novel student-centred teaching materials. We are also committed to optimising teaching skills amongst our own staff through the ongoing evaluation of our Faculty Development programme for veterinary educators.

Our funded research is currently researching novel approaches to clinical skills training (e.g. handwashing), and staff and student engagement with lecture recording, and has previously produced numerous peer–reviewed publications (see selected outputs) as well as freely available web-based training packages for undergraduate veterinary students and veterinary nurses (The EMS Driving Licences). Team members have also been involved in Curriculum Mapping projects, and published the first paper in the literature relating to the use of curriculum mapping in veterinary curricula.

Selected projects

  • Vets at "Play"
  • QuaLRec: Qualitative exploration of staff and student engagement, experience and behaviour with Lecture Recording
  • Peer Support for pre-arrival: resources and support package for students of the BVM&S degree
  • Evaluating a new approach to placement training preparation: The EMS Driving Licence
  • Building bridges through Graduate Attributes: Easing the Transition to the Veterinary Profession
  • Postgraduate peer tutors supporting academic skills in online programmes
  • Development and evaluation of Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) in the veterinary curriculum: platform for a new Undergraduate Certificate in Veterinary Medical Education
  • Student Led Development of a Dynamic Media Library for the R(D)SVS
  • In their hands: Students Outcomes and Experiences with a Gesture Recognition System for Handwashing

Key staff members

  • Sharon Boyd
  • Neil Hudson
  • Kirsty Hughes
  • Jill MacKay
  • Eoghan Clarkson
  • Brian Mather
  • Nick Daniels
  • James Bradshaw
  • Caroline Mosley
  • Jessie Paterson
  • Susan Rhind
  • Richard Mellanby

Selected outputs

Bell, C., Rhind, S., Stansbie, N. & Hudson, N. (2017). Getting started with Peer Assisted Learning in a veterinary curriculum. http://dx.doi.org/10.3138/jvme.0216-047R

Cake, M., Bell, M., Williams, J., Brown, F., Dozier, M., Rhind, S. & Baillie, S. (2016) Which professional (non-technical) competencies are most important to the success of graduate veterinarians? A Best Evidence Medical Education (BEME) systematic review: BEME Guide No. 38. http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/0142159X.2016.1173662

Paterson, J., Hughes, K., Steer, L., Das Gupta, M., Boyd, S., Bell, C. & Rhind, S. (2016) Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) as a Window into the Veterinary Profession. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/vr.103979

Boyd, S., & Paterson, J. (2016). Postgraduate peer tutors supporting academic skills in online programmes. Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, Special Edition: Academic Peer Learning Pt 2.

Hudson, N., Stansbie, N., Rhind, S., Brown, G., Handel, I., Mellanby, R. & Bell, C. (2015). Recognising and developing students as teachers: introduction of a novel Undergraduate Certificate in Veterinary Medical Education. http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/0142159X.2015.1078891

Bell, C., Paterson, J. & Warman, S (2014). Tips for small group teaching. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/inp.g3379

Bell, C. E.  Faculty Development in Veterinary Education: Are We Doing Enough (or Publishing Enough About It), and Do We Value It? (2013). http://dx.doi.org/10.3138/jvme.0113-022R

Rhind, S., Baillie, S., Kinnison, T., Shaw, D., Bell, C., Mellanby, R., Hammond, J., Hudson, N., Whittington, R. & Donnelly, R. (2011) The transition into veterinary practice: Opinions of recent graduates and final year students. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1472-6920-11-64

Bell, C., Baillie, S., Kinnison, T., Cavers, A. & Forrest, N. (2010) The EMS Driving Licence: Preparing for, and getting the most out of, your veterinary EMS placements.   http://www.ems.vet.ed.ac.uk

Bell, C. E., Ellaway, R. H. & Rhind, S. M. (2009). Getting Started with Curriculum Mapping in a Veterinary Degree Program. http://dx.doi.org/10.3138/jvme.36.1.100

This article was published on