Current Programme Re-design Projects

Robert G Williams -  Biomedical Science Programmes

The project will seek to review and develop cohesive and innovative assessment strategies and feedback mechanisms to encourage, stimulate and support improved reflective learning and professional competency throughout all stages of the undergraduate biomedical science programmes including the work-based elements.  This will be achieved by the inclusion of additional problem based learning and assessment activity linked to the deployment of e-portfolios (personal and professional).  In addition the project will enable university staff and work-based mentors to enhance their assessment practice.

Ian Mathieson – BSc (Hons) Podiatry

The activities of the Wales Centre for Podiatric Studies focus on delivery of the BSc (Hons) Podiatry, which involves in excess of 900 clinical teaching hours over the three years of the programme. With a 6:1 student : staff ratio stipulated by the Health Professions Council, and over 30 students per year, clinical supervision represents a substantial resource requirement. This project is stage one in what is hoped to be a modernisation of the teaching methods used which will not only reduce the clinical supervision hours required, but improve the quality of teaching. This first stage will focus on year 1 students, who are currently taught basic clinical techniques in small groups prior to patient contact. In contrast to multiple groups covering the same topics with different staff according to the 6:1 ratio, a series of electronic resources based around PowerPoint with embedded videos and photos will be developed. These will permit demonstration of techniques to a large group in a classroom situation prior to moving into clinic for practical experience. In addition to reducing variation between staff (which is not always negative as exposure to legitimate variations and controversies in practice techniques is important) the project will see the development of an archive of electronic teaching resources which will serve as an important revision tool for students that can be accessed through Blackboard via any pc. New laptops will be provided for clinic so that these resources can also be accessed during revision sessions. The roll-out of the new-style module will begin in early October 2009 with the 2009-2010 student intake. The pre-clinical module runs until Christmas and it envisaged that the project will cover the teaching of this entire period of study via the new techniques. Success in the re-development of this module will lead to further projects focusing on other clinical modules.

Nic James -  MSc Performance Analysis of Sport project

The goal of this project is to create a blended learning (distance learning with some compulsory attendance) version of the highly popular MSc Performance Analysis of Sport course. Previous students on this course have enjoyed a very high success rate in gaining employment in the relatively new and expanding career of Performance Analysis of Sport; particularly in Premier League football, professional rugby union and the English Institute of Sport. These, and other sports, are increasing their need for well qualified Performance Analysts and consequently demand for students from this course remains high. The success of this course has also started to attract overseas applications from countries such as Brazil and South Africa where there is also a growing demand for qualified Performance Analysts. As this is currently the only course of its kind in the world it is felt that it is imperative to maintain our market leader status by satisfying the demand for distance learning. This demand has been seen through the number of enquiries for a distance learning version of the course, particularly from professional sportspeople interested in a career in Performance Analysis after their playing careers are over. This MSc Performance Analysis of Sport course comprises six taught modules along with a 15,000 word dissertation or scientific paper equivalent. The taught courses typically involve the use of specialist Performance Analysis computer software which is used to aid the analysis of different sports viewed either “live” or from digital recordings. This type of software is produced by a number of commercial companies to satisfy the same or slightly different analysis demands. The Performance Analysis team at UWIC have very good working relationships with a number of these companies who provide time limited versions of their software to our students for no cost. This means that we can ensure that students from all over the world have access to the software necessary to study this course. Providing a distance learning course requires a number of solutions to potential problems not associated with traditional forms of teaching. Issues such as access to library resources; communication between the distance learning student and other students, lecturers, support staff; access to suitable learning materials; feedback provision; workload demands in terms of expected completion of coursework. These are all issues that require planning and preparation in order to deliver a first class Masters programme that will ensure UWIC’s reputation as the leading provider of well trained Performance Analysts.

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