How can I use the OSCE stations platform to practice with others in a group?
Our OSCE stations platform is great for practising OSCEs in a group with others! How you use the platform depends on your own preference, how big your group is, and whether you are practising remotely. We've outlined some options below!
See here to find out how to use our platform and Discord to find other students to practice with.
If you are small group of at least two people, you can use our group practice mode. With this mode, you will assign roles of candidate, examiner, patient and observer to each other. You can re-allocate roles station by station, or you can run a whole circuit using the same roles.
You can use this mode for in-person revision, or for remote practice using a dedicated shared audio channel.
As a larger group, there are a few different ways to take advantage of our platform:
Split into smaller groups
You can split into smaller groups of 2+, and use group practice mode within that group. As a large group you could decide to run the same circuit or station within your smaller groups. Each participant could stay in the same role (e.g. examiner); or you could change roles with each station. Group practice mode can be used for in-person or remote revision.
Have multiple observers
For teaching purposes, it can be valuable to observe and learn from our peers, and receive feedback from the group. In group practice mode, there can be unlimited observers, along with the candidate, patient, and examiner. Observers have access to candidate instructions and patient instructions. Alternatively, if practising face to face and therefore the dedicated audio channel isn't needed, observers can decline to join in with the group practice mode but can open the station in solo mode. In this way they can see all elements of the OSCE station including the mark scheme.
When running a mock OSCE circuit, typically the candidate moves from station to station, while the examiner and patient remain static. To replicate exam conditions, timings should be strict, and all feedback is received at the end of the session rather than within each station.
The first step for running a mock OSCE is to create a circuit either using our bank of OSCE stations, or by creating your own stations. The number of stations in the circuit may well depend on how many people you have available to practice with. Don't forget to factor in a rest station or two!
You would then share the circuit with your patients and examiners, and let each person know which station they will be performing.
As per real OSCE exams, the examiner and the patient would set up with their equipment in a room or private space, with a separate area just outside for the candidate to prepare. You may wish to allocate a person to being the organiser or invigilator- these people are in charge of timings.
There are a couple of options then for how you deliver the mock OSCE:
Using group practice mode
If using group practice mode, everyone will need a computer, tablet or mobile device. At each station, one person at that station should set up group practice mode for that individual station in the circuit (eg abdominal examination) and allocate roles. At the end of the station, the examiner will end the session and send feedback to the candidate for review later.
Note- if you start a circuit instead of an individual station in group practice mode, everyone will be moved to a new station at each turn; not just the candidate!
Without group practice mode
If not using group practice mode, you will need to either print candidate and patient instructions, or have these available on a device. Although printed instructions can require planning, this often ties in more closely with exam conditions. The examiner can use their device or computer to access the station and complete feedback for the candidate, which they can send on the candidate at the end of the station. The candidate will need to provide an email address or similar to receive the feedback. The examiner will also have access to the timer if needed.
Note- stations within the mobile app do not have the option to share feedback when not in group practice mode- you will need to use the web browser instead!
Finding people to practice with
See here to find out how to use our platform and Discord to find other students to practice with.
Practising as a small group
If you are small group of at least two people, you can use our group practice mode. With this mode, you will assign roles of candidate, examiner, patient and observer to each other. You can re-allocate roles station by station, or you can run a whole circuit using the same roles.
You can use this mode for in-person revision, or for remote practice using a dedicated shared audio channel.
Practising as a larger group
As a larger group, there are a few different ways to take advantage of our platform:
Split into smaller groups
You can split into smaller groups of 2+, and use group practice mode within that group. As a large group you could decide to run the same circuit or station within your smaller groups. Each participant could stay in the same role (e.g. examiner); or you could change roles with each station. Group practice mode can be used for in-person or remote revision.
Have multiple observers
For teaching purposes, it can be valuable to observe and learn from our peers, and receive feedback from the group. In group practice mode, there can be unlimited observers, along with the candidate, patient, and examiner. Observers have access to candidate instructions and patient instructions. Alternatively, if practising face to face and therefore the dedicated audio channel isn't needed, observers can decline to join in with the group practice mode but can open the station in solo mode. In this way they can see all elements of the OSCE station including the mark scheme.
Running a mock OSCE circuit
When running a mock OSCE circuit, typically the candidate moves from station to station, while the examiner and patient remain static. To replicate exam conditions, timings should be strict, and all feedback is received at the end of the session rather than within each station.
The first step for running a mock OSCE is to create a circuit either using our bank of OSCE stations, or by creating your own stations. The number of stations in the circuit may well depend on how many people you have available to practice with. Don't forget to factor in a rest station or two!
You would then share the circuit with your patients and examiners, and let each person know which station they will be performing.
As per real OSCE exams, the examiner and the patient would set up with their equipment in a room or private space, with a separate area just outside for the candidate to prepare. You may wish to allocate a person to being the organiser or invigilator- these people are in charge of timings.
There are a couple of options then for how you deliver the mock OSCE:
Using group practice mode
If using group practice mode, everyone will need a computer, tablet or mobile device. At each station, one person at that station should set up group practice mode for that individual station in the circuit (eg abdominal examination) and allocate roles. At the end of the station, the examiner will end the session and send feedback to the candidate for review later.
Note- if you start a circuit instead of an individual station in group practice mode, everyone will be moved to a new station at each turn; not just the candidate!
Without group practice mode
If not using group practice mode, you will need to either print candidate and patient instructions, or have these available on a device. Although printed instructions can require planning, this often ties in more closely with exam conditions. The examiner can use their device or computer to access the station and complete feedback for the candidate, which they can send on the candidate at the end of the station. The candidate will need to provide an email address or similar to receive the feedback. The examiner will also have access to the timer if needed.
Note- stations within the mobile app do not have the option to share feedback when not in group practice mode- you will need to use the web browser instead!
Updated on: 24/09/2024
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