Topic outline
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Being an online course, there is less opportunity for face to face small group project work, so a variety of online activities are designed to achieve this goal.
These activities are in the form of online forum discussions, wikis, blogs, and peer review of shared student work as well as weekly voluntary synchronous activities within each course. A wide variety of clinical scenarios are discussed online. What can often be controversial topics are brought up for debate and discussion in online tutorial activities and Virtual Classroom sessions, where it is possible to break out into small group pods and collaborate. These activities increase student engagement and also improve communication skills and students learn to provide and receive constructive feedback in a professional manner.
Students are continuously encouraged to present case studies in in-house departmental meetings, as well to submit abstracts for poster and oral presentations in conferences, thus improving their communication skills and engaging with the wider professional community.
Students are also assessed for communication skills in assessments which require group collaboration, as well as in practical tutor assessments, and at the final assessment.
Throughout the course, assessments require students to develop and incorporate research strategies which seek evidence-based best practices and ask for critical appraisal of identified literature.
The masters program allows students to develop their research skills, by requiring students to select at least one research/evidence-based practice option in their elective subject choices.
For those students who are so inclined, leadership opportunities present themselves throughout their studies, whether it be through leadership of class activities or volunteering for ultrasound events.
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