Models of supervision and PBL (Practice Based Learning) environments - online training module for AHP's (Allied Health Professions) across Scotland.
Callum (Occupational Therapy Lead) & Francesca (Occupational Therapist) at bOunceT recently filmed themselves speaking about hosting multiple occupational therapy students for their academic placements at bOunceT.
These videos have been made available on TURAS Learn - an NHS Education for Scotland website where various AHP's undertake online learning and training.
This online module is all about 'Models of supervision and PBL (Practice Based Learning) environments'.
Callum & Francesca advocate for 'Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) Placements'. PAL placements are becoming more common across clinical practice.
Peer assisted learning can be defined as:
“To get knowledge through study, experience, observation or teaching of an equal”. In the context of Practice-based Learning a PAL model means having two or more students actively learning with and from each other on placement."
NHS Education for Scotland Knowledge Network
NHS Education for Scotland have produced a useful guide on developing and facilitating PAL placements.
Students often find PAL placements extremely useful in supporting their learning. In a study by Sevenhuysen et al (2017), peer assisted learning appeared to reduce student anxiety, provide a sense of safety for the student, reduce educator burden, maximise available placement time and build professional skills.
"From a practice educator perspective, we have seen an increased ability to take on project-style work, due to our services' increased capacity (more important now than ever with COVID-19 as services are adapting and changing how they run). Also, the OT's within my team have felt less worried about numbers of students on placement with us - how we spend our time and how they spend their time"
-Callum MacKinnon (Occupational Therapy Lead)
"It might sound like double the work, but it really is not because they are supporting each other to learn. This can be less pressure on the practice educator. I would definitely recommend others to think about this and try it"
-Francesca Smart (Occupational Therapist)
