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Feedback
Learners value feedback highly. In many instances, feedback will be linked to some form of assessment. Valid feedback is based on observation of students’ behaviours. Feedback should be practical, timely and concrete. The ability to give feedback in a form that is useful to the listener is important. This should include style and the ability to present information in a way that will be accepted and acted upon: good communication skills are vital for the process to be effective. A teacher’s feedback should begin by asking the learner what he or she feels confident of having done well and what he or she feels that they would wish to improve. This can be followed up by the teacher’s specific observations of what was done well and an outline of one or two points that could help the students to improve [22]. Being able to receive feedback, despite its delivery, is equally important. Good feedback should encourage reflective practice.
Formative assessment
Formative assessment is a method used to assess medical students. See the entry on assessment.
Foundation courses
For students with good, non-science grades at A level or equivalent, several universities offer the chance to study a foundation or pre-medical course. The nature of these courses varies from school to school but they sometimes form the first part of a six year medical degree. For a list of medical schools offering foundation or pre-medical courses, see the BMA’s publication Becoming a doctor.
Foundation degrees
Foundation degrees are employment related higher education qualifications, which are designed to give students high-level practical skills they will be able to apply directly to the workplace. Foundation degrees are a strong feature of the government’s proposals for the future of higher education in England. A key feature of foundation degrees is that employers play a role in designing courses, so both they and the students can be certain they will gain the skills that are really needed in work.
Foundation programme
In 2003 the four UK Health Departments published a policy statement on Modernising Medical Careers (MMC), setting out a major reform of postgraduate medical education and training. One of the fundamental changes to postgraduate medical training is the introduction of foundation programmes.
The foundation programme is a competence-based two-year general training programme which forms the bridge between medical school and specialist/general practice training where trainees will have the opportunity to gain experience in a series of placements in a variety of specialties and healthcare settings.
The first year of the foundation programme builds upon the knowledge, skills and competences acquired in undergraduate training. The second year of the foundation programme builds on the first year of training with the main focus on training in the assessment and management of the acutely ill patient. Training also encompasses the generic professional skills applicable to all areas of medicine - team work, time management, communication and IT skills.
More information about Modernising Medical Careers and foundation training can be found on the MMC website.
Funding
Current information on funding for medical students can be found in the BMA online guide Becoming a doctor. This guide also provides contact details of possible organisations that may be able to provide grants or loans to students studying medicine.
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