Whatever happened to apprenticeship learning?
1FRCP, Clinical Tutor, Worthing Hospital, Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, Worthing, UK. caldwell@wsht.nhs.uk
Background:
I have been a clinical tutor for 10 years in Worthing Hospital, UK. During this time I have seen an increased emphasis on classroom teaching, assessments in controlled situations and simulation, rather than on apprenticeship learning during well-supervised clinical working.
Context:
At the educational conference on 'Learning without Leaving the Workplace' hosted by my hospital, I had an opportunity to present my reflections on apprenticeship or situated learning. This article is a summary of that talk.
Implications:
The relatively new model of 'situated learning' offers an opportunity for academics and clinicians to revitalise the apprenticeship model of learning in, and being stimulated by, the clinical workplace.
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