Teaching
Research Connected Teaching
I have long been a firm believer in Research-Connected Teaching and my work to embed real-life research into the teaching and provide opportunites for students to learn from clinical researchers and to collaborate with them on projects and publications has been well received. My work to embed research-connected teaching within my Year 2 research methods module gained me a Learning and Teaching Fellowship in 2022. My research into simulated placements has directly impacted on teaching strategy within the University and far beyond. During the COVID-19 epidemic when clinical training severely affected radiotherapy training I instigated an international conference to share ideas relating to the use of simulation.
Active Learning
I have a strong reputation for developing innovative simulation resources and activities which facilitate active, problem-based and authentic learning. I have received recognition for this work through the Alastair Pilkington award and the recent national "Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence"; for both of these I was the team leader. Much of this work related to my leadership with two rounds of SIHED funded simulated placement projects. These studies helped to develop and evaluate innovative learning activities and environments that provide students with enjoyable and effective active learning. More recently I have been embedding Lego Serious Play activities within IPL to engage students and build teamworking skills. I have also developed a game to help students within the IPL curriculum to understand how protected characteristics can be threatened in the clinical environment and challenge them to devise effective solutions and approaches. Through my role as School IPL Lead I have changed the strategic approach to delivery to embed active learning into the curriculum with full-day activities in small groups attracting positive student feedback.
Authentic Assessment
My key input into the programme design prior to validation was the introduction of a case-based curriculum. My simulation and research methods teaching and assessment strategies have both benefitted greatly from a patient-focussed approach and helps to maintain the authenticity of the curriculum. I have embedded a peer review formative assessment into the Year 2 research methods module to emulate clinical practice. I have also worked with clinical research leads to develop opportunities for our Year 2 students to collaborate on research projects with genuine clinical value and ensure that their research generates relevant findings. This work gained me a Learning and teaching Fellowship. I have also had great success in helping Year 3 students disseminate their assessment findings via publication in peer-reviewed journals and also by presentation at professional conferences including UKIO 2023.
Radiotherapy Physics
Physics is fun. There; I've said it now! I love teaching radiotherapy physics, especially to our new first year students and enjoy both lectures and practical sessions helping the students wrestle with theoretical aspects of physical principles and technology as well as practical application to clinical practice. I have developed a series of animations to help with physical processes of interaction and X-ray production as well as a series of online experiments to engage learners with the principles of half-value thickness and the inverse square law.
CT Anatomy for Radiotherapy Cross-sectional Imaging Anatomy
Closely allied with radiotherapy planning is CT and MR anatomy interpretation and this has long been a passion of mine. I enjoy teaching CT and MR interpretation at undergraduate and postgraduate level as well as with qualified staff via CPD and my textbook. My best-selling CPD Short-Course "MR Anatomy for Radiotherapy" continues to attract large numbers of delegates.
Research Skills
My strong publication background and collaboration in a wide range of research projects has equipped me with a diverse research skill set. I believe that a commitment to engaging with research is one of the great strengths of a good therapy radiographer and hope to inspire a love of research into the students. As well as helping equip people with core research skills, I enjoy supervising undergraduate and postgraduate students with both literature-based dissertations and research projects. In my second year module I run a "Students Den" initiative which pitches clinical projects to students and encourages them to bid for an opportunity for collaborative research with clinical partners. My work with this gained me a Learning and Teaching Fellowship in 2022.
Modules for 2024-25
ADVANCING PRACTICE IN BREAST CANCER MANAGEMENT AND PATIENT CARE
Module code: RADT756
Role: Teaching
ADVANCING PRACTICE IN HEAD & NECK CANCER MANAGEMENT AND PATIENT CARE
Module code: RADT758
Role: Teaching
ADVANCING PRACTICE IN LUNG CANCER MANAGEMENT AND PATIENT CARE
Module code: RADT760
Role: Teaching
APPLIED RESEARCH METHODS IN RADIOTHERAPY
Module code: RADT221
Role: Module Co-ordinator
DISSERTATION
Module code: HEAL451
Role: Teaching
DISSERTATION (SEMESTER 2)
Module code: HEAL461
Role: Teaching
Designing Scholarship and Research
Module code: HEAL713
Role: Teaching
Dissertation: Healthcare Practice
Module code: HEAL418
Role: Teaching
Evidence based Practice and Research
Module code: HEAL711
Role: Teaching
FOUNDATIONS OF RADIATION ONCOLOGY AND PATIENT CARE 2 (BREAST)
Module code: RADT121
Role: Teaching
FOUNDATIONS OF RADIOTHERAPY, ONCOLOGY AND PATIENT CARE 1
Module code: RADT118
Role: Teaching
Foundations of Physics and Radiobiology for Radiotherapy
Module code: RADT421
Role: Module Co-ordinator
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI) IN RADIOTHERAPY
Module code: RADT751
Role: Module Co-ordinator
Physical and radio-biological science for radiotherapy 3 (clinical practice)
Module code: RADT725
Role: Teaching
RADIOTHERAPY PHYSICS, TECHNOLOGY AND RADIOBIOLOGY 1
Module code: RADT114
Role: Module Co-ordinator
RADIOTHERAPY RESEARCH DISSERTATION
Module code: RADT312
Role: Teaching
RESEARCH METHODS IN RADIOTHERAPY
Module code: RADT134
Role: Teaching
Radiotherapy Physics, Technology and Radiobiology 1
Module code: RADT110
Role: Module Co-ordinator
Research Methods
Module code: HEAL712
Role: Teaching
Research Methods in Radiotherapy
Module code: RADT120
Role: Teaching