Q: What is the BST Taught Programme?
A: The BST Taught Programme is an essential element of the BST curriculum. It consists of a series of modular elements spread across the years of BST covering core professional skills requirements of the training curriculum such as communication, ethics, etc. The programme is delivered via a combination of self-paced online content, live virtual tutorials, and in-person workshops.
Q: How does the BST Taught Programme work?
A: Trainees will be assigned self-paced online content per quarter. This self-paced online content will be delivered via RCPI’s virtual learning environment, Brightspace. Each quarter will also include one scheduled virtual tutorial lasting 90 minutes. Allocated tutorial dates will be provided before the start of the training year. Trainees must plan the time to complete requirements per quarter.
Q: How do I access my BST Taught Programme?
A: The BST Taught Programme is delivered through the RCPI virtual learning environment, Brightspace. You can access Brightspace anytime by logging into the RCPI Website and clicking the link to Brightspace in your Digital Hub.
Q: When will I receive access to the BST Taught Programme?
A: You will receive communication from RCPI in late May/early June with information ahead of your start date on BST in July. This will include information on your BST Taught Programme as well as your Virtual Tutorial dates for the year.
Q: What are the requirements of my BST Taught Programme?
A: All components of the BST Taught Programme must be completed to successfully meet training requirements. This must include 100% attendance at virtual tutorials and in-person workshops.
Q: How does my BST Taught Programme relate to my ePortfolio?
A: Trainees are responsible for logging all activities related to BST in ePortfolio. Your ePortfolio will be viewed by your Trainer at Quarterly/End of Post Assessments, and by an Evaluation Panel at your End of Year Evaluation. As the BST Taught Programme is an essential part of your BST, you will need to make sure to log your progress in ePortfolio to ensure it correctly reflects completion of these elements of your curriculum.
Q: What is a Virtual Tutorial?
A: Each quarter you will attend one scheduled virtual tutorial lasting 90-minutes. Allocated dates will be provided before the start of the training year. The live virtual tutorials will be delivered on Zoom by clinical tutors related to your specialty and they will use specialty specific examples throughout each tutorial. You will be assigned to a tutorial group and will remain with your tutorial group for the duration of BST. You will have eight quarterly virtual tutorials over the course of your BST. You are required to attend all eight tutorials to complete your BST Taught Programme.
Q: When will I know my Virtual Tutorial dates?
A: You will receive communication from RCPI in late May/early June with information ahead of your start date on BST in July. This will include information on your BST Taught Programme as well as your Virtual Tutorial dates for the year.
Q: How many Virtual Tutorials will I need to attend?
A: You will have eight quarterly virtual tutorials over the course of your BST. You are required to attend all eight tutorials to complete your BST Taught Programme.
Q: How do I access my Virtual Tutorial?
A: You will find information on each of your quarterly Virtual Tutorials including Zoom links in Brightspace as part of your BST Taught Programme. You can access Brightspace anytime by logging into the RCPI Website and clicking the link to Brightspace in your Digital Hub.
Q: Can I contact my Virtual Tutorial Tutor?
A: Each tutorial group will have a Discussion Board which you can use to contact your Tutor and to interact with BST colleagues in your tutorial group. Tutors will monitor Discussion Boards and will be able to respond to you either via the Discussion Board, or directly as appropriate.
Q: Will I receive a certificate of attendance for Virtual Tutorials?
A: Attendance at virtual tutorials will be marked by the Tutor in Brightspace for those who attended the full tutorial. Once attendance is marked, it will be visible to you in Brightspace. You may use a screen shot as evidence of attendance and may forward this to hospital HR or attach to your ePortfolio as appropriate.
Q: What if I cannot attend my Virtual Tutorial?
A: You will receive your allocated quarterly tutorial dates as part of induction communications before the start of each training year. It is your responsibility to attend 100% of your virtual tutorials, so please plan ahead. If you are unable to attend one of your allocated tutorial dates due to extenuating circumstances, you must contact the Education Delivery Coordinator to discuss ASAP. Please note this is dealt with on a case-by-case basis, so be sure to contact [email protected] as soon as you know there is a problem so that your case can be reviewed.
Q: What happens if I miss my Virtual Tutorial?
A: Failure to attend tutorials within a given training year may affect progression. You will receive your allocated quarterly tutorial dates as part of induction communications before the start of each training year. It is your responsibility to attend 100% of your virtual tutorials, so please plan ahead. If you are unable to attend one of your allocated tutorial dates due to extenuating circumstances, you must contact the Education Delivery Coordinator to discuss ASAP. Please note this is dealt with on a case-by-case basis, so be sure to contact [email protected] as soon as you know there is a problem so that your case can be reviewed.
Q: Who should I contact about Virtual Tutorials?
A: Should you have any queries about your BST Taught Programme, please contact [email protected].
Q: What do I need to bring to my Quarterly/End of Post Assessment to show my progress in my BST Taught Programme?
A: Trainees are responsible for logging all activities related to BST in ePortfolio. To supplement this, you may be asked to provide evidence of your progress with the BST Taught Programme at your Quarterly/End of Post Assessment with your Trainer. Your progress (including self-paced online content and attendance at virtual tutorial) will be visible to you in Brightspace. You may wish to upload a screen shot to your ePortfolio as supporting documentation.
Q: What do I need to bring to my End of Year Evaluation to show my progress in my BST Taught Programme?
A: Trainees are responsible for logging all activities related to BST in ePortfolio. To supplement this, you may be asked to provide evidence of your progress with the BST Taught Programme at End of Year Evaluation. Your progress (including self-paced online content and attendance at virtual tutorial) will be visible to you in Brightspace. You may wish to upload a screen shot to your ePortfolio as supporting documentation.
Q: How long will I have access to my BST Taught Programme in Brightspace?
A: Once released, all self-paced online content will remain available to you for the duration of your BST programme, i.e. you will at no point be ‘locked out’ from accessing lessons. However, if content is left incomplete, it will be reported and may be queried by your Trainer/RPD/NSD.
Q: How long will I have to complete self-paced online content in the BST Taught Programme?
A: New content is added quarterly over two years of your BST. It is strongly recommended that you complete self-paced online content in advance of the virtual tutorials. Once released, all self-paced online content will remain available to you for the duration of your BST programme, i.e. you will at no point be ‘locked out’ from accessing lessons. However, if content is left incomplete, it will show up in your progress report. Trainees are responsible for completing the online learning throughout each year of training. It is important to note that if content is not completed, it will be reported and may be queried by your Trainer/RPD/NSD.
Q: When is new self-paced online content released on Brightspace for the BST Taught Programme?
A: Pre-Scheme and Quarter 1 (July-September) teaching content will be available to Trainees approximately six weeks before the training year’s July start date. New content is added quarterly thereafter over two years of your BST. You will be notified by Brightspace when new content is available.
Q: I’ve finished my self-paced online content for this quarter – can I request early access to next quarter’s content?
A: No. It will not be possible for you to request advance access to the next quarter’s content during the current quarter.
Q: Do I have to complete self-paced online content modules in order?
A: The self-paced online content for each quarter has been designed in structured lessons that are aligned with the virtual tutorials. Following the content as per design aims to optimise your engagement and enhance learning, however there is no restriction on this order, so you will have the option to decide the best route through the content for yourself.
Q: Do I have to complete self-paced online content before each Virtual Tutorial?
A: It is strongly recommended that you complete self-paced online content in advance of the virtual tutorials. As the BST Taught Programme follows a blended model, completing the online coursework will enhance your comprehension of the topics covered in the virtual tutorials, while also enriching your learning experience and involvement.
Q: Will there be a formal test or Trainer assessment required to complete self-paced online content in the BST Taught Programme?
A: Self-paced online content lessons may contain a range of opportunities for knowledge checks and self-assessment to ensure your understanding. Workplace assessments will be conducted by Trainers separately to online content and in line with curriculum requirements.
Q: Will I receive a certificate of completion of self-paced online content in the BST Taught Programme?
A: Your progress (including self-paced online content and attendance at virtual tutorial) will be visible to you in Brightspace. You may wish to upload a screen shot to your ePortfolio as supporting documentation.
Q: What happens if I have not completed the self-paced online content in my BST Taught Programme in time for my End of Year Evaluation?
A: Failure to complete requirements of the BST Taught Programme for the year (including 100% attendance at virtual tutorials) may affect progression through BST. If you are falling behind, it will fall to the RCPI/RPD/Associate Director/NSD to decide how you will progress to the next year of Training and what will be required to make up missing elements of the Taught Programme.
Q: Do I need to complete the BST Taught Programme to get my BST certificate?
A: Yes. The BST Taught Programme is an essential component of BST and must be completed in line with curriculum requirements.
Q: What do I need to show from my BST Taught Programme for BST certification?
A: All components of the BST Taught Programme must be completed to successfully meet training requirements. This must include 100% attendance at virtual tutorials and in-person workshops.
Q: What happens to my BST Taught Programme if I go on extended leave from BST?
A: Where a Trainee’s time on BST is extended, the length of the extension will be determined and approved by the RCPI/RPD/Associate Director/NSD and in line with programme requirements per the BST Training Handbook. Access to Brightspace online content will be extended accordingly.
Q: Who should I contact with questions about my BST Taught Programme?
A: Should you have any queries about your BST Taught Programme, please contact [email protected].