This month's interview: Dr Martyn Williamson, Senior Lecturer, General Practice & Rural Health.

Each month the Distance Learning Campus Staff Newsletter provides a snapshot of the awesome work that University staff members provide from across the globe. It is an opportunity to learn more about the diversity of our distance staff work locations, pedagogical approaches and use of digital tools. Hopefully, we can provide you with inspiration about new ideas and ways of thinking about teaching in the distance environment.

This month we caught up with Dr Martyn Williamson who currently teaches the distance paper 'GENA 823 Teaching and Learning in Medical Practice'. It was really interesting to hear some inspirational strategies on how to create a positive teacher-learner environment.  Martyn works with students in a simulated clinic environment known as the Safe and Effective Clinical Outcomes (SECO) clinic. 

The benefits to students are:

• Integrated clinical performance
• Repeated practice and assessment in an authentic simulation of clinical practice
• Prompt and detailed feedback on the achievement of outcomes
• Outcomes based on relevant patient benefits - safety and effectiveness
• Help in recognising their own limitations and developing ways of managing uncertainty

The SECO may provide the teaching framework for students to learn but what we found really interesting when Zooming with Dr Williamson were the strategies around student engagement.  In particular the importance of creating a psychologically safe environment for students to do more then just listen, or answer questions. Martyn's approach is to build on a specific discussion point that collectively involves students to reach a learning point through their engagement and collaboration.  Acknowledging students strength and courage to ask questions that evolve their depth of understanding, aiding in the achievement of the learning objectives. There was also talk about the importance of both teacher and student using the philosophies of 'Unconditional Positive Regard' as a necessary tool in self-awareness, and vulnerability to create a genuine connection in a clinical environment. 

We asked Martyn a few specfic questions and here were his responses.

What is the best thing about being involved in Distance Education at the University of Otago?

"the flexibility it provides"

Share something interesting or surprising about teaching by distance, and working with distance students.

"I was surprised at how well zoom tutorials worked. It was lovely to have student names available to make it more personal and it was possible to involve everyone much more easily than in a live group setting. The class were constantkly helping each other with useful chat comments so it felt like real team learning.."

Do you have some words of advice to anyone keen to take the plunge and explore Distance Teaching?

"Give it a go, be clear on what you want to achieve, learn from your experiences. Pre planning essential"

Provide us with one favourite technological tool/approach that has helped in engaging your students.

"all the zoom functions"

Thanks for your time Dr Williamson we really enjoyed your time and were very inspired. We hope to see you share your strategies with a wider Zoom audience soon! 😀

If you would like to share your insights into Distance Teaching in one of our future Newsletters please don't hesitate to contact the Distance Learning Office.