No images? Click here Update on the audio-visual Objective Structured Clinical Examination on Saturday 20 November 2021 Dear Following another week of extensive testing, we are pleased with the progress made on the software platform. The system and workflow improvements have been implemented and tested again and we will be proceeding with the pre-exam Pilot, re-scheduled for Saturday 6 November 2021. We will be showcasing the exam platform (the Pilot) to key stakeholders. An evaluation and feedback on the platform will be gathered in the effort to ensure optimal experience for participants on exam day. The project team is closely working with the software provider to finalise the allocation of candidates and examiners to stations, streams, and session times. All ‘can’t see’ requests will be audited to ensure they have been accounted for. We appreciate your patience as we aim to inform participants of their allocated start and end times later next week, after the pre-exam Pilot is conducted. Exam resources and supports Development of the instructional resources, planning for the online training demonstrations and live online practice environment is almost completed and will be offered following the pre-exam Pilot. Participants should have already completed a technical test session and are now required to attend a training demonstration session. Participants are reminded that they are required to attend ONE 45-minute online training demonstration session prior to the exam on Saturday 20 November 2021. Please log on early to the demonstration to ensure you don’t experience any technical issues that may impact your ability to participate - this includes audio, visual and internet connectivity. You should be participating in these sessions from the workstation (PC/Laptop) that you will use for the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) on the exam day. You do not need to register for these sessions. The following times are available. Links will be sent shortly.
Candidates:
The training demonstrations will be recorded and available on the College website to be accessed as desired leading up to the exam. A link to this resource will be provided. Attendance at one of these sessions is critical to your understanding and familiarisation of the software. Practice environment Following the training demonstration sessions, all participants will be able to practice on the assessment platform directly. These practice opportunities will enable participants the opportunity to practice logging in, navigating the platform and experiencing the Assessment and Zoom platform integration across stations. It will closely simulate the real exam. Sessions will be advertised and can be booked early next week. College staff will be supporting and offering guidance and assistance at these practice sessions. These training and familiarisation opportunities are being offered to assist with user familiarity and confidence with the system. Mandatory technology testing Over the past month, the College held a series of technology testing sessions to support participants to prepare for the technology requirements of the audio-visual Objective Structured Clinical Examination (AVOSCE). Attendance at one of these sessions is mandatory. If you have not yet attended one of these sessions, please contact clinicals@ranzcp.org. Candidates who do not attend a technology test on the equipment they will use for the exam may not have their issue considered should they experience technical issues in the exam and submit an incident form post exam. AVOSCE contingency Whilst we are mindful there are associated risks with delivering an exam via AV from participants’ homes or their place of work, we wish to highlight that the AV format to accommodate a maximum number of candidates enrolled in the exam was a direct strategy to overcome multiple COVID related assessment disruptions and lockdowns, which led the College to reconsider the suitability of Multi-Site OSCEs delivered in July 2021 and further face-to-face assessment activities. The decision to transition to an AV format for larger scale OSCEs was in line with the practices adopted by many other medical specialty colleges. The College’s priority is to graduate as many psychiatrists as possible to meet workforce and community needs. The Steering Group is planning a contingency exam to accommodate priority candidates which can be held in February 2022, should the AVOSCE in November fail to proceed due to technology issues or extenuating events. Priority candidates are identified as those who are closest to Fellowship in their trajectory and for whom successful completion of the OSCE is the last eligibility requirement for Fellowship. We will be soon developing a list of identified priority candidates and we will advise eligible candidates prior to Saturday 20 November 2021. Support for candidates The College acknowledges the considerable psychological and logistical demands on trainees and Specialist International Medical Graduates of planning and preparing for the OSCE, and the additional significant uncertainties associated with the introduction of new exam delivery software. We wish to assure all candidates that we are making every effort to provide support and information as it becomes available, in an open and transparent manner. Associate Professor Lisa Lampe Dr Nathan Gibson Dr Nick O’Connor |