The preparation of teachers for shared learning environments

This paper outlines a project designed to evaluate shared learning in educational programmes of preparation for nursing, midwifery and health visiting teachers in England, building upon the literature review described in part 1 of this report and a more detailed account available elsewhere. A dearth of research into shared learning and teachers' roles was noted. To address this, an illuminative evaluation approach was taken to elicit quantitative and qualitative data from lecturers on teacher preparation programmes, new teachers who had recently completed these programmes, and more experienced teachers working in colleges of nursing and midwifery. This study that a number of shared learning initiatives exist in teacher preparation centres and colleges of nursing and midwifery. There was general agreement between the participants that it was necessary to prepare teachers to be facilitators in shared learning environments; however, no particular type of preparation was considered essential. The implications for future work are considered.