Articulation: a concept supporting alliances in education.

Area of Science:

• Educational theory
• Collaborative learning
• Health professions education

Background:

• Educators utilize articulation as a theoretical framework for planning collaborative, cooperative, and coordinating activities.
• The concept of articulation supports rational planning and implementation of educational initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the concept of articulation in education.
• To present findings from a three-year research effort on articulation.
• To propose a future plan for articulation in allied health education.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive analysis of the concept of articulation.
• Case study of a three-year research effort.
• Development of two model sites for collaborative change.
• Formulation of a strategic plan for allied health education.

Main Results:

• Articulation serves as a robust framework for collaborative educational endeavors.
• Two model sites successfully implemented articulation for significant collaborative change.
• The research provided empirical support for the application of articulation theory.

Conclusions:

• Articulation is a valuable theoretical construct for fostering collaboration in education.
• The demonstrated success at model sites validates the use of articulation for driving change.
• A clear pathway for future articulation in allied health education has been outlined.