BEST ACADEMIC PRACTICES AT SCHOOL OF ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES

Title of the practice:

Simulation-based medical education

Objectives of the practice:

Simulation-based learning can be the way to develop health professionals knowledge, skills, and attitudes, whilst protecting patients from unnecessary risks.

Simulation-based medical education can be a platform which provides a valuable tool in learning to mitigate ethical tensions and resolve practical dilemmas

Simulation-based training techniques, tools, and strategies can be applied in designing structured learning experiences, as well as be used as a measurement tool linked to targeted teamwork competencies and learning objectives.

The context:

The context regarding a simulation center would be a long-term investment in medical education.

It can be used for undergraduate training such as in the study of anatomy, physiological functions, familiarization with medical examination techniques or preparing for practical examinations or for competency testing prior to training / patient handling.

Challenging issues that needed to be addressed in designing and implementing this practice are convenient location, adequate space for training small groups, equipment setup, technical support from the vendors in the long term

The practice:

The features of simulation practice in the context of India Higher Education include,

• Deliberate practice with feedback
• Exposure to uncommon events
• Reproducibility
• Opportunity for assessment of learners
• The absence of risks to patients

Evidence of success:

The results of success accomplished by,

• Students getting an ability to manage the difficulty levels in patient handling
• Better understanding of theoretical concepts

Title of the practice:

Rubrics for Assessment

Objectives of the practice:

• To assess student's knowledge and skill sets.
• To increase the quality of direct instruction by providing focus, emphasis, and attention to details.
• To Motivate the Students to reach the standards specified.
• To score more consistently across the course and grade without any bias.
• To offer a method of consistency in scoring by clearly defining the performance criteria.
• To provide overview of students achievement.
• To help the students for better understanding the objectives of learning and what is expected of them.
• For easy sharing of concise text to students and parent about certain strength and weakness.

The context:

The teacher uses information about the learning-teaching context and considers student individual differences to set learning goals and objectives, and plan instruction and assessment teacher decides the context and method to be taught based on following criteria’s:

• Knowledge of characteristics of students
• Knowledge of students’ varied approaches to learning
• Knowledge of students’ skills and prior learning
• Implications for instructional planning and assessment
• Knowledge about the type of task whether it is skill based/oral/written based.
• Knowledge on the reasonable number of performance level.
• Knowledge on the application of good descriptors for varied approaches of students.

The practice:

• can be used for student self-feedback and peer-feedback.
• To help the students develop and understand the subject in their own vocabulary .
• promote self-awareness and self-reflection on work.
• Grading scale helps the students to increase their performance level.
• Useful to provide consistent feedback between 2 or more individuals/groups/departments
• Helps the students to reduce their anxiety level since the expected context is already been provided
• Helps the students in Metacognition development by their own.
• Forces the teacher to clarify criteria in detail.
• Based on students feedback on understanding the context,teacher can modify the teaching methods and instructions.
• Rubrics gives an advantage of scoring g better even for the below average students.

Evidence of success:

We had conducted a practical examination for the Department of Optometry II year without rubrics evaluation. Students had no idea about the scheme of examination and scoring techniques and faculties faced lot of bias in grading the performance level.

To overcome this, we referred rubrics and prepared a descriptor for each level of task. We had issued the prepared rubrics to our Optometry II year students and made them practice steps required and expected in each task.We had also given them the score for each step, which helped them to perform and score better in the practicals conducted thereafter.

• This helped faculties for easy scoring
• The evaluation was unbiased
• The performance level of the students increased to a wider range.
• Students had better focus on the contents to be learnt.
• Decreased exam anxiety ,leading to better outputs

Even the below average Students confidence level had increased and they felt motivated as they scored better.

2020 REPORT

The induction programme for all the undergraduate students was started through online mode on 23rd Nov 2020, paving way for a new world of professionals.

The objectives of the programme is to make the students feel comfortable in their new environment, open them up, set a healthy daily routine, create bonding in the batch as well as between faculty and students, develop awareness, sensitivity and understanding of the self, people around them, society at large, and nature. The time during the Induction Program is also used to rectify some critical lacunas and sensitize them towards exploring their academic interest and activities, reducing competition and making them work for excellence, build relations between teachers and students and overall personality development.

The following events were organized in Induction programme:

S.No	Date	Time	Programme Schedule
1	23/11/2020	10:00 am to 11.00am	Introduction about Institution & Campus facilities (Library, Hostel, Canteen, Admin) & Faculties
		11.30am to 12.30pm	Introduction about relevant Department
		2:00pm to 3:00pm	Creative Art Activity (Drawing, Painting,etc..)
2	24/11/2020	10:00 am to 11.00am	Institutional Rules & Regulations and Explanation of different functional Committee in College
		11.00am to 12.30pm	Importance of Physical Activities (Special Lecture)
		2:00pm to 3:00pm	Roles & Responsibilities of Technologists
3	25/11/2020	10:00 am to 11.00am	Anti Ragging Pledge & Awareness Programme  by Mr.Sethupathi Mariappan, Director, National Law Foundation, Salem
		11.00am to 12.30pm
		2:00pm to 3:00pm	Special Lecture by Dr. C. Parthiban Role of yoga in health care profession
4	26/11/2020	10:00 am to 11.00am	Campus & Hospital Visit (Through Video)
		11.00am to 12.30pm	Social Awareness Webinar (About Indian Constitution) by Mr.Gowthaman, AP/ Government Law College, Chengalpattu.
		2:00pm to 3:00pm	Webinar on First Aid Management by Dr.Dhanasekar, Department of Emergency & Accidental Care, VIMS Hospital,Salem
5	27/11/2020	10:00 am to 12:30pm	Literacy Activity ( Summary writing- Any General Topic)
		2:00pm to 3:00pm	Special Talk by SAHS Alumni

Day: 1

All the students were given a warm welcome by Director Dr.B.Sendilkumar, SAHS. He delivered a speech on job opportunities of Allied Health Sciences professions and other aspects of college life.

He introduced all the faculties, who explained about each of their courses in brief. After end of the director speech, the students were split into department wise and the in-charges were gave brief introduction about college, relevant department activities and other support services like library, canteen, etc.

Afternoon session

Various creative activities are conducted by faculty members like drawing, painting, etc.

Day: 2

On the second day of morning session, the department in-charges explained about the rules & regulations of college and different functional committees in institution.

And also organized a webinar on Immunity through Fitness.The aim of the webinar is to educate the importance of physical activities to students. Director Dr.B.Sendilkumar, delivered the welcome address. Dr.R.Natarajan, Asst.Commissioner, GST, IAAF-Coach, Chennai invited as a chief guest of the programme. He delivered a special talk on the above topic.

Afternoon session

At the afternoon session, the department in-charges explained about the roles and responsibilities of technologists in medical healthcare professions.

Day: 3

On the third day of morning session, Anti Ragging Awareness Programme was conducted. The Director Dr.B.Sendilkumar, SAHS inaugurated the programme. Mr.Sethupathi Mariyappan, Director, National Law Foundation, Salem, invited as a chief guest of this programme. He delivered a lecture on the importance and gravity of the topic and various forms of ragging with examples were enumerated in the lecture. The consequences of ragging were taught and students were given awareness regarding the punishments for ragging under the law. Students were also informed of their part and the role they should play in approaching the concerned personnel in case they are faced with any instances of ragging. At the end of the session anti ragging awareness pledge was taken by students.

Afternoon session

Yoga instructor Dr.C.Parthiban delivered a lecture on “Role of Yoga in Healthcare Profession”. He explained the importance of mind, body and soul nourishment through Yoga. Because meditation and yoga brings a positive vibes among the students and if they do it regularly it will help in bringing positive outcomes which is advantageous for the scholars.

Day : 4

On the morning session, the college video was played to students to get better understand of college facilities and also conducted a webinar on Indian Constituent awareness programme. The aim of the webinar is to spread the importance of the constitution and to spread thoughts and ideas of Dr. Ambedkar. Director Dr.B.Sendilkumar delivered the welcome address. Mr.Gowthaman, Assistant Professor, Government Law College, Chengalpattu invited as a Chief guest of this programme. He delivered a speech about “Basic laws in Indian Constitution and its Importance” to students. Based on this programme, we create a quiz & reading preamble of constitution day pledge link for students to get better awareness about Indian Constitution.

Afternoon session

On the afternoon session of 4th day, the workshop was conducted on First aid Management. In this programme, Dr.Dhanasekar, Emergency & Acciental Care,VIMS Hospital, Salem invited as a chief guest. Director Dr.B.Sendilkumar delivered a welcome address. The special guest highlighted a set of clinical interventions for the immediate emergency management of cardiac arrest, heart attack and other life threatening medical emergencies as well as knowledge and skills to apply those interventions.

The students learned the basics of resuscitation like chest compressions, adult and infant breaths, management of choking in adults and infants etc.

Day : 5

On the morning session, various literacy activities were conducted like writing. speech,etc..

Afternoon session

On the afternoon, the online session “ Special talk by SAHS Alumni” was conducted. The various department alumni students were participated in this programme and they shared their great moments & experiences to first year students.