Humanising the virtual experience

Workshop aim 

To explore a series of key ideas behind humanising the virtual space we have designed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for virtual clinical placements. These humanising elements are equally applicable in face-to-face education.    

Objectives   By the end of the workshops participants will: 

•             Understand the importance of the human dimension for students  

•             Be equipped with a range of approaches to try out in their own context (in any learning context or meetings)   

Format  

We will model face-to-face the approaches we use virtually as part of the CIRCA Med Ed cross medical school monthly meeting we run linked to Medical Schools Council. Our humanising approaches have emerged through iterative design-based innovation in the virtual space working together with students, tutors and faculty.    

-              Initial breakout into groups of 3, informal conversation  

-              Set the tone 

o                    psychological safety intervention 

o                    student voice (drawing on quotes from student lived experience of virtual learning)  

o                    the human dimension (explore through postcards) 

-              Use think-pair-share to explore learning online thoughts and experiences  

-              In large group discussion bring out ideas on interaction – learners talking 50% or more of the time, use of questions, use of breakouts, compassion for peer learners 

-              Summarise and evaluate through tools like menti, jamboard, padlet      

The workshop will introduce participants to some key concepts such as psychological safety (1) and equal voice (2) from the field of leadership and organizational learning. We will also draw on the idea of creative enquiry (3) and other concepts relating to human-centred leadership in the Post-Covid-19 era such as meaningful work and facilitating collective reflective and emotional spaces (4).   

Content 

Themes we will address include: 

•             Starting and ending the meeting (crossing liminal spaces) 

•             Psychological Safety(1) 

•             Student Voice (5) 

•             Equal talk time and inclusivity (2) 

•             Flatten hierarchy – increase innovation (4) 

•             Meaningful work (4) 

•             Breakouts 

•             Reflective and emotional space  

•             Evaluation     

Intended audience 

The workshop will be relevant to educators, clinicians, anyone who convenes a meeting.       

1.            Edmondson A, Higgins M, Singer S, Weiner J. Understanding Psychological Safety in Health Care and Education Organizations: A Comparative Perspective. Research in Human Development [Internet]. 2016; 13(1):[65-83 pp.]. 

2.            Duhigg C. What Google Learned From Its Quest to Build the Perfect Team. The New York Times Magazine. 2016. 

3.            Younie L, Swinglehurst D. Creative enquiry and reflective general practice. Br J Gen Pract. 2019;69(686):446-7. 

4.            Park B, Steckler N, Ey S, Wiser A, DeVoe J. Co-creating a thriving human-centered health system in the post-covid-19 era. NEJM Catalyst innovations in care delivery. 2020:2. 

5.            Younie L, Swinglehurst D. Creative enquiry and the clinical encounter. Br J Gen Pract. 2020;70(690):26-7.