BSMS > About BSMS > BSMS20 > Staff spotlight > Staff spotlight: Tim Vincent

Staff spotlight: Tim Vincent

Tim Vincent, Senior Learning Technologist.

Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?

I grew up in a family setting that actively encouraged inquisitiveness, exploration and discussion, which provided a rich playground for learning (including drumming, filmmaking and DIY pyrotechnics!). I was the one at the meal table always asking about biology and medicine (to my siblings' annoyance) and this manifested in a fascinating undergraduate degree in physiology and pharmacology at King’s College London. My first job after university was as a co-ordinator for workshops at the Royal College of Physicians which provided an inspiring insight into the world of postgraduate medical education and sparked a passion for that world.

What brought you to BSMS?

Having got engaged to be married and then found myself unexpectedly 'between jobs' in 2005, I took a fixed-term post at the BSMS Department of Medical Education (or the IPGM as it was called then) to help coordinate taught programmes and implement operational efficiencies. I found myself commuting from central London to Falmer daily, reassured that it was only temporary. While in this role, a new Learning Technologist post was created for the undergraduate programme – a relatively new profession emerging in the Higher Education sector and one that I had never heard of but felt it matched my skillset well. Despite being such a novice, my application was successful and I started that role in February 2007, committing myself to the daily reverse London commute! I shall ever be grateful for that opportunity given to me that started such an enjoyable career.

Could you tell us a little bit more about your role?

I have always felt that this role perfectly combines my passions for education, healthcare and technical solutions. Despite the technological title, the goal of a learning technologist is to help people teach, to help educators achieve their goals in facilitating learning. This is particularly necessary in medical education because so many of the educators are not situated in the university world but geographically dispersed in multi-faceted, multi-professional roles. Thus, I and my colleagues support course teams in the effective use of the digital tools available to them – from basics of presentation software to complex digital learning resource projects. I greatly appreciate the variety of tasks and challenges, working with healthcare practitioners, and the rich experiences and opportunities to develop my own professional skills. Ultimately, I continue to draw meaningful value in the end goal of supporting healthcare, by helping people learn, through helping people teach and communicate.

What's your favourite memory from your time at BSMS?

I have many and it's difficult to select one! The fancy dress Christmas parties of the former IPGM days are legendary (for those who witnessed them!). The BSMS 10 'OSCE' celebration event was a landmark and memorable occasion – I particularly enjoyed donning a Victorian physician costume for 'history of medicine station'. I have many enjoyable memories of filming various educational videos with a wide range of people, occasionally in front of the camera. All these memories seem to involve theatrics!

BACKGROUND IMAGE FOR PANEL

What is your biggest professional achievement?

Out of the many successes I have achieved with BSMS colleagues over the years, one of the greatest is the Capsule quiz-based resource. This was one of the first projects I undertook when I started this role – managing the creation of a formative assessment tool in a very short turnaround before the first cohort of Year 5 students started in the Autumn! I saw it through a complete redesign and rebuild with an external developer company, and sixteen years later it is now being used as a valuable learning resource by most UK medical schools and some overseas. I continue to believe its success is largely in the strength of the educational principles and design to which we have held from the beginning.

Who has inspired you most in life?

I have been blessed with many inspiring people and the one who stands out most would be my father. From his unwavering patience with me asking yet another medical question at the meal table (still happens!) to his quiet determination to drive ideas forward by working with people and bringing them alongside. As someone who has worked extremely hard and achieved many great things, it is less what he has achieved but more how he has achieved them that I find inspiring. I have observed over many years the priority of relationships and friendliness to colleagues, the importance of maintaining playfulness and joy in work and the equal value and treatment of all people – from the cleaning staff to the Vice Chancellor. If I can be half the person my father is, I maintain some hope of making a positive difference at BSMS while I am here.

Describe BSMS in three words.

Founded on prayer [a fact that I witnessed from before BSMS was born and I attribute to its success in the values on which it was built].

What’s the best piece of advice you would give your younger self?

You can be bold and strong and face your anxieties more because you are stronger and more valuable than you feel. And wear earplugs more because those drums are really loud.