Tips on supporting delivery of remote teaching: Anna Foakes Senior Teaching & Learning Administrator
25 June 2020
Anna Foakes AFHEA, MyAV·¶ Queen Square Institute of Neurology, draws on 7 years’ experience in managing distance learning programmes to share her tips for administrative success.
The MyAV·¶ Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Distance Learning Clinical Neurology MSc programme was the first of its kind in the world. It was set up nine years ago, initially with a Diploma route, before adding MSc and PG Certificate options from 2016 onwards.Ìý
Remote administrative successÌý
Anna, Senior Teaching and Learning Administrator,Ìýshares her experience and tips for Teaching Administrators now managing online delivery and tasked with providing effective remote support.Ìý
Distant student cohortÌý
Our student numbers have expanded;ÌýweÌýtypically have between 80 to 95 students registered on the programme.
All of the programme ‘students’ are practising medical doctors based worldwide.
They come from a variety of backgrounds, including:
- general medicine
- acute medicine
- neuro surgery
- psychiatry
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The course offers a flexible approach, allowing busy doctors to adjust their pace on the course, as well as giving the flexibility that online learning provides.
Flexible multimedia teaching and supportÌý
The course uses over 400 e-lectures covering a wide range of topics in neurology, utilising multimedia in a modular structure onÌýÌý
Interaction with course tutors is available byÌýMicrosoft Teams, Skype and Moodle for support and assessment, as well as with monthly ‘real case’ assessed challenges.Ìý
Students also have the opportunity to join Journal Clubs, with worldwide teaching assistants and student forums, along with knowledge cafes based around time zones.Ìý
Anna’s tips for setting up and running online programmes
Student engagement
Think about the engagement right from the offset. Ask yourself:
- What would be helpful for the student to be part of the programme?
- What would you like to know if you were a student?Ìý
Effective communication
Communication is so valuable but keep it simple and clear.Ìý
- Consider liaising with your Covid Mitigation Coordinators (CMCs) onÌýhow to communicate effectively.
- A full list of CMCs can be foundÌýhere.Ìý
Be mindfulÌý
Many of our students are from overseas, so be mindful of the language you use and ofÌýdifferent cultures.
TheyÌýmay also be in different time zones,Ìýaccess student time dataÌýfrom 2019-2020 to give you an idea of geographic spread.Ìý
Check out Student Support and Wellbeing'sÌýInternational Student SupportÌýinformation.Ìý
What platform is appropriate?
Think about what platforms to use with students, what would hold their interest? i.e. blogs, forum posts, monthly activities, videos from tutors.Ìý
Read thisÌýcase studyÌýon how to provide a virtual social space for your students.Ìý
Consider your own professional development
- Do you have the right technology to deliver/ administrator the teaching?
- Do you need to learn any new systems to administrator online programmes, before you get the students involved?
Access support at MyAV·¶:Ìý
- ISDÌýRemote working - tools and best practiceÌý
- , a free online course from MyAV·¶ partner,Ìý
- Professional development:ÌýArena Centre for Research-Based Education
Set clear boundariesÌý
Be clear about your boundaries and realistic with your time. Consider and outline:Ìý
- When you are available?Ìý
- What can you provide?
- What are the timescales for you to deal with the query?
Create templates for student queriesÌý
It sounds simple, but you may receive the same queries and questions regularly.
Consider creating a bank of templates and model answers to share with your team for simple queries or tasks.Ìý
The whole team has a role to play
Teaching assistants canÌýsupport the learning through interesting discussion topics on forums and other platforms - you don't have to do it all.Ìý