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Nick Raine-Fenning
Course Director
Joined: 27 May 2006
Posts: 1838
Location: Nottingham
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 Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 6:56 pm Post subject: Request your very own course! |
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I was just thinking about how we plan to change the courses later this year and thought it would be sensible to ask you guys what you actually want!
If you could attend the perfect course what would it be like?
Please comment on the following:
- length (weekend / week / 2 weeks etc)
- content (fact, practical, mock exams, pre-course exams etc)
- place (London, central England, does not matter)
- price
- course material
- food
- other (course dinner in evening etc)
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"Teale Fenning Medical Education" delivering evidence-based, exam-orientated learning since 1997 |
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Xerxes I
Century Club
Joined: 01 Mar 2007
Posts: 227
Location: Winchester
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| Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:27 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you for the wonderful weekend. I realy enjoyed it. Typing is a bit pinful though, because of the pain in my right index finger after writing 8 essays.
I think the course is fairly priced, food was good enough, should keep the expenses down to keep the fees down. May be adding some cheap Tesco type nibbles could make it more interesting.
venue was perfect. empty college! parking, brilliant.
The mock exam was sobering for me! Invaluable part of the course. I'd keep it. Thank you julian for insisting on exact simulation. I now know time is the main issue. Waiting to get my essays back, don't envy you having to read allthose handwrtngs! |
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Xerxes I
Century Club
Joined: 01 Mar 2007
Posts: 227
Location: Winchester
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| Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:41 pm Post subject: |
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I just remembered something (may be a bit fluffy, but hey...). Th social side was a bit quiet. I know we are generally a sad bunch of serious people but people weren't talking to eachother, second day was a bit better.
May be getting people to introduce themselves in the beginning and say something non-medical and interesting about themselves would get them to open a conversation in the coffee break that doesn't start with "so where do you work?" 
orrrr,
leaflets, support group, social workers, involve other disciplines (lap dancing department would do)
Ok, enough bu...Sh . Back to watch the rest of "Blue velvet" |
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toyin2
Joined: 18 Jan 2008
Posts: 29
Location: London
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:36 am Post subject: |
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I agree,the mock exam was invaluable!Thank you Jullien for the 'strict exam conditions'
Hte exam was a real eye opener,reality check,timing IS everything 
The weekend is very useful though,i wonder though whether 3 days may be better as it was alot of information to take in en masse.
Location is perfect,price ok but lunch could have done with a bit more stimulating choices,or even a simple hot meal?
On the whole,i will definitely recommend it. |
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Nick Raine-Fenning
Course Director
Joined: 27 May 2006
Posts: 1838
Location: Nottingham
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:46 pm Post subject: |
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| Xerxes I wrote: | | Thank you for the wonderful weekend. I realy enjoyed it. |
Thank you - I am glad you enjoyed it.
| Xerxes I wrote: | I think the course is fairly priced, food was good enough, should keep the expenses down to keep the fees down. May be adding some cheap Tesco type nibbles could make it more interesting.
venue was perfect. empty college! parking, brilliant. |
We like the venue for those reasons too and it is central. It also gets you used to the College - our candidates know where to stay, how to get there with plenty of time, and where to get a coffee / bite to eat when necessary.
It is even better for the OSCE Courses as we do ours in the very rooms the exam is performed.
No 'Tesco's nibbles' I am afraid as all catering has to be supplied by the RCOG.
| Xerxes I wrote: | | The mock exam was sobering for me! Invaluable part of the course. I'd keep it. Thank you julian for insisting on exact simulation. I now know time is the main issue. |
We have always said this and totally agree it is a painful exercise we have to put you through. So many people promsie to do a mock exam in real exam time but then take 10 minutes extra or do one essay in 26 minutes and the next the day after. You simply have to be made to do both exams back to back with a limited break to give you a true feel of what to expect on the day.
If we give you the skills to pass and you acquire the knowledge you could still mess up by getting your timing wrong or because you did not apprecaite how hard it is to write for such a long period of time and in such a tense atmosphere.
Our mission is, and always will be, to get all of you through the exam. Long may that continue  |
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Nick Raine-Fenning
Course Director
Joined: 27 May 2006
Posts: 1838
Location: Nottingham
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Xerxes I wrote: | | May be getting people to introduce themselves in the beginning and say something non-medical and interesting about themselves would get them to open a conversation in the coffee break that doesn't start with "so where do you work?" |
It's a good idea. Leave it with me and I'll make some suggestions and set a poll up to debate this. |
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Nick Raine-Fenning
Course Director
Joined: 27 May 2006
Posts: 1838
Location: Nottingham
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:53 pm Post subject: |
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| toyin2 wrote: | I agree,the mock exam was invaluable!Thank you Jullien for the 'strict exam conditions'
Hte exam was a real eye opener,reality check,timing IS everything |
Timing is not 'everything' but is essential to get right hence our insistence on 26 minutes per question and no more or no less!! We did warn you!
I think planning is everything as without proper planning you will run out of time and may put things in the wrong places.
You have the technique now and we agred / showed you that your knowledge was probably good enoughy already so now it is down to practice and that includes time keeping.
| toyin2 wrote: | | The weekend is very useful though,i wonder though whether 3 days may be better as it was alot of information to take in en masse. |
This is why we introduced the weeks ABC Course. Unfortunately this was not as well attended as we had hoped and simply competed with our other courses so we were spread out but with the same numbers.
Ultimately people prefer weekends as they do not need study / annual leave. It is becomming increasingly hard to get time off with rotas as they are as well.
You have the opportunity to do the Essay Practice Course before the Exam and this does reinforce the message / techniques.
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"Teale Fenning Medical Education" delivering evidence-based, exam-orientated learning since 1997 |
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