Page 7 - Eclipse - Autumn 2021

GENERAL NEWS

Teaching clinical skills

during a pandemic

Fiona Brown, Nicki Coombes, Larissa Campos Aquino, Lyndsay Wade, Emily Hammond –
the Clinical Skills Centre team

ockdown came with huge every one of them with a clinical skills session 16 times to 30 times, which
challenges for everyone. For practical kit (gloves, gowns, microscope needed some creative thinking to keep
us in the Clinical Skills Centre slides etc), posted to their homes. These it fresh!
L(CSC), it meant that all our kits complemented their virtual classes. We ran ‘catch-up’ sessions in the
planned practical classes, free access We were also able to provide additional labs and built up the confidence of
‘drop-ins’ and exams were immediately support in the form of online discussion the returning students, with the usual
impacted. Although, we did have to run forums and live Q&A meetings. drop-in sessions proving as popular as
a nursing OSCE during the height of February 2021 saw student classes ever. These, along with rotation group
the pandemic, which was a challenge!
starting back in the CSC. We had to practicals and course exams – OSCE’s
Suddenly we were all working from ‘COVID-proof’ the whole LIVE building, and DOPs preparation – meant our
home, yet we are face-to-face teachers working out how to manage reduced logistical skills were tested to the max!
– how could this work? Well, we made it student numbers, flow around the Our sessions are now feeling more
work and this is how… building, and PPE provision when it ‘normal’ but still with smaller groups of
was rarer than toilet rolls! Despite these
We discovered new ways of working. MS students. Our students have adapted
Teams helped us to organise ourselves obstacles, we were able to maintain the to this new way of learning and have
and we swiftly learnt how to plan to approachability we are proud of in the been an absolute pleasure to teach. We
support students with an online presence CSC, and students were delighted that acknowledge that every single person
as best we could. Many hours were practical teaching was able to take place. has had their own individual personal
spent by the team upskilling, learning Students were nervous when they first struggles during this time and it’s been
new software and creating online virtual came into the building; some had never humbling to see everyone pulling together,
practical and scenario-based interactive been on campus, into the CSC, had a demonstrating resilience and adaptability.
sessions for students to access. Welcome Week, mixed with others or We will also always be immensely proud
made friends.
With our third year BVetMeds going of how we have risen to this challenge,
home to every corner of the globe, our Practical sessions increased in number learnt new skills, playing to our individual
usual face-to-face sessions ceased, so due to social distancing restrictions and strengths and supporting each other
we improvised and provided each and we went from running each practical during such a challenging time.

Joint Veterinary Science degree

with Aberystwyth University

n last year’s Eclipse, we were pleased to report on
the partnership between the RVC and Aberystwyth
University to launch the first ever joint Bachelor of
IVeterinary Science (BVSc) degree.

In September this year, Wales’ first School of Veterinary
Science opened its doors to students for the first time.
This five-year degree sees students spend two years at
Aberystwyth University followed by three years’ study at
our Hawkshead Campus.
We look forward to welcoming this cohort to the
Hawkshead Campus in two years’ time – and later,
into the RVC alumni community.
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