Transforming learners, Transforming lives:
The overarching theme of the Centre for Excellence in Professional Placement Learning is its commitment to promote positive societal change through critical pedagogy and transformative research and practice. Presentations in this theme may include:
- Development of new and innovative placement opportunities for students with an explicitly transformative agenda
- Models of successful interprofessional placements
- Examples of transforming the curriculum through critical approaches to learning
- Development of learning opportunities/modules underpinned by a commitment to social inclusion
- Challenges to positivist research in an attempt to develop more equitable and emancipatory forms of research
Rethinking Interprofessional Education:
The impetus for this theme is drawn from the belief that to make Interprofessional Education meaningful and sustainable it has to be subject to the same pedagogic rigour as other forms of educational practice. Furthermore, it needs to uncover the ‘real’ issues in terms of interprofessional practice and actively seek engagement with all stakeholders to initiate new thinking, research and educational provision. Presentations in this theme may include:
- Authentic interprofessional placement learning
- Engaging colleagues in interprofessional working
- Researching and evaluating interprofessional education
- Policy and theory in the development of models of interprofessional learning and working
- Innovative and creative approaches to delivering interprofessional education
Technology enhanced learning on placement: connecting students and contexts:
This theme is concerned with research, evaluation and development that exploits the potential for new and emerging technologies to enhance students’ placement learning experience. Presentations in this theme may include:
- The benefits and challenges of technology enhanced learning in the placement context
- Using technology to meet the pedagogic needs of students on placement
- The effect of increased connectivity for students on placement
- Facilitating student engagement with technology to enhance placement learning
Preparing and supporting students: making the most of the placement experience:
Effective preparation and support of students for and on placement is vital in enabling an optimal placement learning experience. Provision of comprehensive support presents many challenges in ensuring that the diverse needs of students and placement contexts are met. Presentations in this theme may include:
- Effective placement preparation
- Innovative support structures for students on placement
- The support needs of students on placement
- Monitoring and enhancing the placement learning context
- Ensuring inclusivity in placement learning
Assessment for learning? Assessment for practice?
This theme focuses on best practice and associated challenges with assessing students’ learning whilst on placement, and furthermore in ensuring reliable measurement of the student’s ability to practice competently. Presentations in this theme may include
- Local, national and international perspectives on practice assessment
- Evaluation of the efficacy of practice assessment tools and procedures
- Service user and carer involvement in the assessment of practice
- Innovative practice assessment methods
- The impact of practice assessment on student learning
Sustaining impact: ensuring the future for our learners:
Focussing on strategies regarding sustainable development of teaching and learning initiatives. Presentations in this theme may include:
- Sustaining and building on excellence
- Influencing organisational culture
- Ensuring impact on students’ learning
- Exploring employability
- Life-long learning
- Enterprise
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