Under the Fund for the Development of Teaching and Learning FDTL Phase 4, HEFCE is to fund a 3 year project called the "Case study material for teaching and learning" (CaSTLe) project. CaSTLe is a collaboration between UCL, City, Edinburgh and Sussex Universities and the Learning and Teaching Support Network (LTSN). Audiology cases will be added to PATSy and the system will be used in audiologist training at City and UCL. Aim is to embed and disseminate innovative case study based learning and teaching methods within the allied subject areas of Audiology and Speech and Language Sciences. The project will begin in January 2003.

CaSTLE seeks to bring together centres of excellence in clinical teaching to and embed and disseminate innovative and effective teaching and learning methods within the allied subject areas of Audiology and Speech sciences. CaSTLE will deliver a carefully managed project across two allied subject areas that are experiencing the twin demands of rapid growth in student numbers with the need for flexible learning. In particular, providing students with the necessary clinical experience has become problematic due to increased numbers. In meeting these demands the departments have looked to PATSy as a model for delivering case material in a flexible, web based approach. PATSy (Patient assessment and Teaching System), is a web-based generic shell designed to accept data from any discipline that uses case study material. The project will implement a planned evaluation and dissemination strategy with the support of the LTSN Health Sciences and Practices.

CaSTLE team:

• University of Sussex: Dr Richard Cox (PATSy project director)
• University of Edinburgh: Dr Carmel Lum (PATSy project director), Jonathan Kilgour (PATSy project programmer)
• City University: Prof James Law (CaSTLe steering committee chair), Prof Mary Watts (Steering committee), Prof Vaneeta D'Andrea (Steering), Dr Bruce McFarlane (internal evaluator), David Canning (project officer supervisory), Dr Gea de Jong (technical assistance)
• UCL: Dr Jane Maxim (management team), Dr Merle Mahon (delivery and evaluation), Prof. Deepak Prasher (management team), Paul Turner (delivery and evaluation) Paul Radomskij (delivery and evaluation)
• LTSN: Prof. Catherine Geissler (steering committee)