Organisation(s)

Bournemouth University

Alex Dunford

Physiotherapy lecturer and placement lead at Bournemouth University.

Summary of placement

This was a six week Bournemouth University led placement for first year physiotherapy student with a spilt between practice placement in clinical practice and BU facilitated learning. The students spent 2.5 days in practice with a practice educator and 2.5 days doing Bournemouth University facilitated learning related to the clinical placement. Both practice educators and the academics at the university who oversaw the students completed the assessment. Student also had to do a presentation on their learning over the six weeks placement.

Benefits

  • More time to process feedback from PPE

  • More time for reflection to progress skills

  • Consolidate knowledge through deeper independent learning e.g. research, clinical reasoning, data gathering, sharing experiences with peers and peer feedback

Challenges

  • Time to set the placement up and oversee the placement

  • Resources for the set up and staff time to oversee the groups

  • Getting used to the student being in a practice area for 2.5 days instead of 5 days and how to assess this fairly

Advice you'd give to others

  • Clinical experience for the students was very beneficial alongside the Bournemouth University facilitated learning

  • Need to have good links and communication between Bournemouth University and the practice educators

  • Be clear who is assessing what part of the assessment