certAVP C modules: people's experiences

Re: certAVP C modules: people's experiences

sarah mason — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 14:02:21 GMT

i did all of my modules via rvc and liked the self directed learning. overall they were organised and the coordinators helpful. on the downside the online support is rubbish and they provide very minimal guidance on the requirements for case reports which i struggled with a bit. the assessment structure at rvc is more robust in that you have to pass all of the case log, case reports, exam and reflective learning for each module.

i was lucky to have a mentor as i started an internship when i started my c modules. the mentor issue needs to be addressed there was some movement from samsoc a while back-have a look on the samsoc forum.

good luck!

Re: certAVP C modules: people's experiences

Charlotte Marshall — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 23:05:52 GMT

I think it does depend on your learning style. I was pretty much the first person to sign up for a feline module at Edinburgh and I have not finished it, in fact I barely got anywhere at all. I am afraid I was not that impressed. It is entirely self directed learning - pretty much here is the list of what you have to learn about so go off and learn. I have not had any contact from them to see how I was progressing either.

It is of course possible that now a few more people may have registered that things have picked up!

Re: certAVP C modules: people's experiences

Kate Green — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 20:00:51 GMT

I agree that it does depend on your individual learning style. I did A and B modules with VetLearning and found them excellent, the level of support and guidance suited me well. I am doing C modules in small animal medicine with the RVC and have found the self-directed style much harder, although it is probably good for me! I have concurrently done the Improve two year medicine course which was a massive help in ensuring that I cover all the topics, but I have found the written work difficult with only the minimal guidance they provided. A mentor would have helped me a lot, but hopefully as people become familiar with the new system they will become easier to find, and as more people enrol it may be possible to work with other candidates in your area. It's interesting to hear what experiences people have with the other universities...

Re: certAVP C modules: people's experiences

Rachael Winder — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 18:48:06 GMT

I'm inclined to agree with David here, it really does depend how you learn. I did the A and B mods with RVC and found it reasonably straightforward. At that stage I then did an eCPD course with Edinburgh and thought it a terrible waste of money and appallingly structured- kind of put me off using them for modules! So I went on and did the SAM C modules with RVC. It is very self directed but I didn't find that particularly difficult, ultimately checking the course syllabus against the contents of mainstream textbooks ensures you cover relevant topics (though obviously you need to read further afield and keep up to date). I've pretty much finished now and don't regret doing the modules with RVC, epecially as I found that many of their eCPD courses fitted well with the module syllabus.

One of my colleagues has just completed A with Liverpool and is now doing B mods with them. She's found the very directed style good for her but the time limits could be difficult with the very unpredicatble nature of small animal practice!

Re: certAVP C modules: people's experiences

David Mills — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 16:39:03 GMT

I think a lot depends - to avoid educationspeak as much as possible - as to what type of learner you are and what subject you are choosing to do. I've done my cardio C modules at RVC (diagnostics and therapeutics) and Ed (anatomy and physiology and ;pathology) - the former were all distance learning, but with good support in terms of literature and reviews. The latter had no provision, and little resources but then again its understanable because its basic (undergraduate science) material widely available. The assessments at RVC were suitably rigorous - 2 detailed case reports (2000 words each), case log at least 50 cases, literature article critique, reflective essay and terminal exam per module. Feedback was detailed and helpful. I didn't have a mentor as such but had recourse to a member of the college who visits our practice regularly for tricky cases - but they didn't look over essays or anything else. I await my synoptic exam at Edinburgh next year with interest,

As for A, I actually like the RVC essay structure - I find it interesting and like its casual timetabling. The feedback has been useufl but suggestive rather than critical. I think the essay choice is suitably wide and deal with very important topics which naturally takes people out of the comfort zone. I think its also against the ethos to be trying to seoncd guess what examiners are 'looking for' - sonewhat a 21st century affliction I think. As long as you cover the main areas and back up arguments then you can write as you see fit. The B module (SAM) is also rigorous and makes you examine taken-for-grnated areas well - sterility for instance, scrubbing up time, patient prep - areas where we think we know it all but evidently don't.

Overall I would recommend both Edinurgh and RVC but any centre should be able to give you details re assessment. I don't think one or the other is easier, just different.

A great resource, whilst its still there, is the past papers section on the RCVS website for the old style certificates - many exam questions in the new modules are very similar.

Re: certAVP C modules: people's experiences

Claire Fisher — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 15:51:54 GMT

Should add - if you wish to sit the synoptic exam then you also need to keep a case log but that is submitted later.

Re: certAVP C modules: people's experiences

Marie Kubiak — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 15:33:15 GMT

[quote user="vanessab"]

Thanks Marie

The website doesn't have as much information regarding C modules as RVC (unless I am not looking properly), have emailed them recently but not heard anything, may need to ring them and ask. Was it a continuous assessment over a certain time frame or self-directed?

Ness

[/quote]

Hi,

For the C modules it was self directed learning with submission of caselogs (50 per module for mine) and exams which consisted of a choice of essays and then an image based powerpoint presentation with short answer questions. Seemed to work smoothly and wasn't too scary!

I would ring them and try and talk to someone directly, they were always pretty efficient when I had queries,

Marie

Re: certAVP C modules: people's experiences

Claire Fisher — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 15:13:11 GMT

[quote user="vanessab"]

Hi Claire

Can you tell me a bit more regarding the format of the continuous assessment?

Cheers

Ness

[/quote]

Sure - for this module we are covering neurology, oncology, infectious disease and ocular/dermatological manifestations of systemic disease.

The weeks have lectures from staff at Liverpool and various papers to read.

There is a case report for each topic worth 20% of the final grade and a final test also worth 20%. There is also Journal Club to attend - everyone has to present a paper relevant to the study unit of your allotted week and attend at least one other session - these are pass/fail.

Re: certAVP C modules: people's experiences

vanessab — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 15:02:40 GMT

Hi Claire

Can you tell me a bit more regarding the format of the continuous assessment?

Cheers

Ness

Re: certAVP C modules: people's experiences

vanessab — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 14:59:31 GMT

Hi Helen

Found with A modules that although the essay plan feedback was helpful, there is still a lot of leeway to deviate from what they want. Have found I did better with more factual essays (e.g. POM, electronic records) than more truly reflective ones (e.g stress management) with huge variations in marks. I found the online eCPD for B modules really relevant and beneficial and the feedback on a couple of reports was really useful as well, so enjoyed B much more than A.

Ness

Re: certAVP C modules: people's experiences

vanessab — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 14:53:14 GMT

Thanks Marie

Ness

Re: certAVP C modules: people's experiences

Claire Fisher — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 14:53:06 GMT

Hi Vanessa,

I'm 3 days in to my first C module with Liverpool having completed A and B with them. The assessors are friendly and helpful, the continuous assessment works for me as I find it keeps me focused.

I considered doing a mix of disciplines but have ended up doing the small animal medicine modules (the mixed ones) because I couldn't find a mix of other modules that fitted together well. It would also have meant registering with different universities which would have been more expense too.

Re: certAVP C modules: people's experiences

Helen Wallace — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 14:46:12 GMT

Hi there,

Can't offer much help but am in exactly the same boat. I'm plodding away at the A module with the rvc and feel if the C modules are as unstructured you would need a very good mentor. That said, some of their online courses look to have been designed specifically for the B modules.

Would be interesting to hear about experiences of different providers though.

Re: certAVP C modules: people's experiences

Marie Kubiak — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 14:43:48 GMT

I did my C modules and synoptic at Edinburgh and found they were incredibly helpful and organised. I did A and B modules through the RVC and found them the exact opposite and wouldn't recommend them!

I can't help on the feline side, I did reptiles/birds/exotic mammals/zoo/wildlife I'm afraid!

Marie