Assessing student clinical learning experiences.

Area of Science:

• Physiotherapy Education
• Clinical Learning Environments
• Student Experience

Background:

• Investigating student learning experiences on clinical placement is crucial for effective healthcare education.
• Traditional methods may not fully capture the nuances of student engagement and satisfaction during practical training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate an activity worksheet and questionnaire for assessing student learning experiences in clinical placements.
• To understand the time allocation across various learning activities and student satisfaction levels.

Main Methods:

• A cohort pilot study involving physiotherapy students on clinical placement.
• Utilized an activity worksheet to quantify time spent on clinical and non-clinical tasks.
• Employed a questionnaire to gauge student satisfaction and preferred learning activities.

Main Results:

• The activity worksheet detailed student time allocation for patient treatment, individual work, peer collaboration, and reflective practice.
• Combined data offered insights into the clinical learning environment from the student perspective.
• Identified specific learning activities and student preferences during placement.

Conclusions:

• The developed tools provide a descriptive account of student activities during clinical placements.
• Data can inform refinements to clinical experiences and individualize learning activities.
• Offers a method for aligning educational strategies with student needs and preferences.