Training activity information
Details
Investigate and evaluate the state of the art in a software application area and feedback the findings
Type
Developmental training activity (DTA)
Evidence requirements
Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee.
Reflection on the activity at one or more time points after the event including learning from the activity and/or areas of the trainees practice for development.
An action plan to implement learning and/or to address skills or knowledge gaps identified.
Considerations
- Range of software solutions
- Available libraries/modules
- Evidence based practice
- Literature/market availability searches
Reflective practice guidance
The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.
Before action
- What does it mean to investigate and evaluate the ‘state of the art’? What criteria should you use for your evaluation? How should you effectively feedback your findings?
- What research and analytical skills do you aim to develop through this activity? What insights do you expect to gain into current trends and advancements in a specific area of clinical software? How will this DTA improve your ability to critically appraise and communicate technical information?
- What specific software application area will you focus on for your investigation? What sources of information will you consult (e.g., research papers, industry reports)? How will you structure your evaluation and your feedback? What are your initial ideas about the current state of the art in your chosen area?
In action
- Pay attention to your actions during the investigation and evaluation.
- How are you currently approaching the task of researching the chosen software application area?
- What sources of information are you consulting? What criteria are you using to evaluate the current state of the art (e.g., advancements, trends, limitations, adoption)?
- How are you structuring your feedback of the findings?
- What decisions are you making regarding the scope of your investigation, the depth of your evaluation, and the format and content of your feedback?
- What aspects of research and critical evaluation feel intuitive based on your scientific background, and what requires more conscious effort in synthesizing information and formulating insightful feedback?
- How effective are your current research methods in gathering relevant and up-to-date information?
- How effective is your evaluation in providing a comprehensive and insightful overview of the state of the art?
- How effectively are you structuring your feedback?
- What challenges are you encountering as you navigate the available information, critically assess different approaches, and prepare your feedback?
- What can you learn about the specific software application area and the process of staying current with advancements in the field as you are actively investigating and evaluating?
- How does this activity connect to your understanding of scientific literature review, critical appraisal, and effective communication of technical information?
- Are there alternative sources of information or evaluation criteria you could be considering?
- How are you adapting your feedback based on your ongoing research and evaluation?
- What support or resources (e.g., academic databases, industry reports, expert opinions) might you need at this moment to enhance your investigation and evaluation?
- Are you ensuring your feedback is clear, concise, and relevant to the intended audience?
On action
- Identify the software application area you investigated. What were the key trends and developments you found? Summarise the methods you used to investigate and evaluate the state of the art. Note how you communicated your findings (feedback).
- What are effective methods for staying up-to-date with advancements in software application areas? How do you critically evaluate new technologies and approaches in software development? What are the key considerations when feeding back findings from a technical investigation? How does understanding the state of the art inform software development decisions?
- How will you continue to monitor developments in relevant software application areas? What criteria will you use to evaluate new software technologies and frameworks? What strategies will you use to effectively communicate your technical findings to others?
Beyond action
- Have you reflected on the software application area you investigated and your evaluation of the state of the art? How does your understanding of research and technology evaluation compare now? Have you conducted similar investigations since?
- How has this activity improved your ability to research, analyse, and synthesise information about emerging technologies? Has it influenced how you stay updated with advancements in your field?
- What transferable skills, such as research skills, critical thinking, and communication (in feeding back findings), did you develop? What clear actions can you take to further develop your skills in technology evaluation and knowledge sharing?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 11 |
Outcome
Critically appraise advances in technology and practice applied to clinical computing. |
| # 13 |
Outcome
Demonstrate effective communication skills with the multidisciplinary team. |