Workshop 3 (mapped to Framework Area 3: Teaching and facilitating learning)

Walking in the shoes of a WP medical student: student, educator and research perspective

Facilitators: Cory Dunnigan, Jasleen Sanghera and Agata Dunsmore

The transition to university can be challenging for students who move from familiar structured learning environments in school to more self-directed learning encountered at university. This transition can be challenging for those from widening participation (WP) backgrounds who may have had less opportunity to develop the range of study skills and therefore feel underprepared for the academic demands of higher education. Students from WP may also lack other capital, both financial and social.

This session will encourage medical educators to reflect on the challenges faced from the perspective of medical students. First-hand accounts from current WP medical students will be heard and recent published literature on WP students’ experiences shared. Through this, attendees will develop a greater insight to the challenges faced which may not be obvious. Our aim is to help educators to consider how existing teaching and support may be adapted to be more inclusive and some of the unexpected benefits this may bring.

Intended Learning Outcomes: 

• Understand the skills and attributes that learner from WP bring, and some of the challenges that they face.
• To reflect back on your own experiences as a learner and as an educator of all students including WP and look at the challenges but also advantages that WP students bring.
• Look at how what we do as educators can be adapted to be inclusive of all students including those from WP background.