An Introduction to Practice Education

Table of Contents

1. Overview
2. Using this resource
3. Part One - An introduction to practice education
   1. The role of practice education
   2. The relationship between the academic programme and practice education
   3. Approaches to teaching and learning
   4. Expectations of Professional Practice
   5. Reflection
4. PART TWO - Planning and Preparation for Professional Practice Education
   1. The role of professional practice education
   2. Examining the work environment - resources for learning
   3. Reflection
   4. Possible resources to use with a student with the same learning preference
   5. Possible student anxieties before embarking on a new placement
   6. Suggested information required by practice educators
5. PART THREE - Supervising and Assessing a Student in Professional Practice
   1. Defining the learning experience
   2. Student supervision and feedback
   3. Principles of Assessment
   4. Reflective practice
   5. Coping with the student with difficulties
   6. Reflection
6. Suggested responses and additional notes
   1. Aims and objectives
   2. Video Scenarios - Supervison assessment
   3. Supervision
   4. References

The role of professional practice education

All work environments contain aspects, which may pose a hazard or risk to those who enter it. Services have a duty to take steps to minimise any such danger, to alert staff to potential problem areas and, in many cases, to provide appropriate training. You are probably well aware of hazards and risks in relation to your own working life and how they affect you, and what you do, in your professional capacity.

Would a student undertaking a practice placement with you be similarly aware of the risks?

This consideration may be particularly important in situations where a practice educator operates in a community setting, undertakes home visits or may work alone.

Does your service setting have formal policies, guidelines and procedures on risk assessment for staff?

If so, are you able to make a copy available for a student on placement?

It is important to clarify that if a student feels safe and supported in spite of presence of risk it will enhance motivation and engagement and keep focus in perspective. The following identifies some common areas of risk which can be addressed. Obviously these will vary both between and within professions based on the location, the intervention and the nature of the condition.