Mrs Alanna Metcalfe

Clinical Supervisor, Clinical Facilitator and Lecturer - Faculty of Dentistry, University of Plymouth

Qualifications

Having gained experience as a Surgeon Lieutenant Commander, Senior Dental Surgeon, Private and NHS General Dental Practitioner and now also Clinical Supervisor and Facilitator, I am now looking to further my knowledge and abilities within the academic arena. Identifying a passion for teaching, emphasised by attaining an Associate Fellowship from the Teaching Development Framework at the University of Plymouth, I am looking to further my teaching experience. I ultimately wish to assist students in attaining and maintaining the drive and enthusiasm to deliver an exceptional standard of dentistry with a self-directed focus on prevention, evidence-based research, life-long learning and professionalism.

Bachelor of Dental Surgery (Distinction)      University of Glasgow              

Member of the Joint Dental Faculty         Royal College of Surgeons           

Associate Fellowship – Teaching Development Framework 2018

Professional membership

Member of the Joint Dental Faculty - Royal College of Surgeons            

Associate Fellowship – Teaching Development Framework 2018

Teaching interests

Having recognised a passion and enthusiasm for tutoring, I am applying to undertake a Masters in Clinical Education with a view improving my own teaching practice and ultimately influence the teaching of dental professionals. I wish to undertake pedagogic research as part of this study; potentially to further explore the idea that software use “must be employed deliberately to support students’ learning, not simply because the technology is available” 1. Although there is an online forum in place to assist students with their PBL sessions I feel that there needs to be more input from facilitators to ensure maximal benefit and further efforts to encourage online collaborative learning.

In order to achieve this there are several areas of the PBL experience which would need to be assessed: the mismatch between IT skills of both students and facilitators, the perceived versus actual benefits of the forum, issues with current forum software that discourage use, and, current level of facilitator and student online training. Having already started a considerable review of the literature and gathered feedback in relation to PBL and web learning, I hope to steer research into new but key areas, providing guidance on training, software modification and dynamic learning.

References:

1. Supporting traditional PBL with online discussion forums: A study from Qassim Medical School. Alamro, Schofield. 2012. Medical Teacher – An international Journal of Education for the Health Sciences, 2012;34 Suppl 1:S20-4.

Research interests

Having recognised a passion and enthusiasm for tutoring, I am applying to undertake a Masters in Clinical Education with a view improving my own teaching practice and ultimately influence the teaching of dental professionals. I wish to undertake pedagogic research as part of this study; potentially to further explore the idea that software use “must be employed deliberately to support students’ learning, not simply because the technology is available” 1. Although there is an online forum in place to assist students with their PBL sessions I feel that there needs to be more input from facilitators to ensure maximal benefit and further efforts to encourage online collaborative learning.

In order to achieve this there are several areas of the PBL experience which would need to be assessed: the mismatch between IT skills of both students and facilitators, the perceived versus actual benefits of the forum, issues with current forum software that discourage use, and, current level of facilitator and student online training. Having already started a considerable review of the literature and gathered feedback in relation to PBL and web learning, I hope to steer research into new but key areas, providing guidance on training, software modification and dynamic learning.

References:

1. Supporting traditional PBL with online discussion forums: A study from Qassim Medical School. Alamro, Schofield. 2012. Medical Teacher – An international Journal of Education for the Health Sciences, 2012;34 Suppl 1:S20-4.

Reports & invited lectures

Prescribing in Practice - 2nd BDS 2019

Other academic activities

SSTAR Award Winner - 2019

Interviewing potential dental, medical and radiography students (assisting with MMM process).

Acting as assessor for Paediatric Resuscitation resit examinations.

Additional information

Sporting achievements     

Combined Services Taekwon Do Team        Gold Medal Winner

Royal Navy Hockey Team member           Ladies First Team

Windsurfing                             RYA Level 3

Kayaking                               RYA Level 2

Sailing                                 RYA Day Skipper

Interests

Cycling, Kickboxing, Running (Half Marathon), Music (Piano, Flute, Guitar), Cake Making and General Fitness.