Workshop for Education Researchers (from Complete Novices to Completing PhD students) and supervisors

Medical education research is a young discipline and many would-be researchers and supervisors have a steep learning curve to climb. ASME ran this workshop to foster the quantity and quality of UK medical education research.

Aim

The workshop aimed to be inclusive and fun so as to make medical education research accessible to those who would like to conduct it, whatever their current level of achievement.

Who was it aimed at?

Novice to intermediate education researchers including teaching staff who wish to build an education research portfolio, masters students, and beginning PhD students.

What were the objectives?

By attending the workshop, participants:

• Developed their understanding of what research is, and the distinguishing features of education (as opposed to biomedical) research,
• Developed skills in:
  • Choosing a topic and focusing a researchable problem,
  • Formulating a clear research question,
  • Identifying and handling ethical issues,
  • Choosing an appropriate research method,
• Understood better how to disseminate their work,
• Built networks with other participants that could lead to future collaboration.

Who were the workshop leaders?

The workshop was led by a small international team of experienced researchers who share a commitment to drawing people into the discipline and helping to build the capacity to conduct quality education research.

Tim Dornan, Head of Manchester Medical School Education Research Group, UK
Kevin Eva, Editor, Medical Education and Associate Professor, McMaster University, Canada
Charlotte Ringsted, Professor of Medical Education, Copenhagen University, Denmark

What form did the workshop take?

It was highly interactive throughout. The main activity was small group work, interspersed with short presentations and plenary discussion.

Programme