Pharmacy Leadership and Management is one of the 4th year modules in the University’s Pharmacy (MPharm) degree.
The module sees groups of six students set up, design a management plan, market and run a simulated pharmacy for the whole year in competition with their fellow students. During a series of simulation days the teams put their learning into practice in a specially-built Pharmacy, set in the fictional town of Pilchester, where actors visit as patients and customers, prescribers, pharmaceutical company representatives and inspectors.
Online teaching
The move to online teaching came about during the simulation week which created a number of challenges for staff.
Module convenor Vibhu Solanki had already been developing an online version of the simulation, experimenting with different technology, in case there was ever a need to deliver this virtually.
In less than a week he, along with his colleague Priyanka Chandarana, created 10 virtual pharmacies. The pair had to then recruit dozens of colleagues to role play 20 different specially created scenarios, of varying degrees of difficulty, created virtual pharmacy tours, and set about creating the platforms and logistics around getting groups of students to take part.
The international make up of students also meant that the team had to offer ‘opening hours’ spanning different time zones so all the students in the group could practice their customer service and management skills wherever they were in the world. Vibhu also ensured he was part of the pharmacy online groups so he could pass on feedback in real time.
Vibhu said: “This is a complex module to organise in any circumstances so we were unsure just how well it would translate virtually. The key thing for me was ensuring that we included the learning outcomes that we had still to cover – we undertook a mapping exercise to ensure that it all linked in which was a huge piece of work but incredibly valuable.
“The students really embraced the virtual version of Pilchester and were able to collaborate and share their experiences in their groups. I was so grateful for all our volunteer academics who rose to the challenge in taking on their scenario responsibilities and pleased that we managed to deliver the same outcomes.”
Posted on Tuesday 9th June 2020