103 research outputs found
Challenging the 'New Professionalism': from managerialism to pedagogy?
In recent years there have been changes made to the conceptualisation of continuing professional development for teachers in both the Scottish and English systems of education. These changes have been instigated by successive UK governments (and more recently, by the Scottish Executive), together with the General teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) and the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE). This paper argues that these changes have not provided a clear rationale for CPD, but instead have introduced tensions between the concept of teacher education and that of training. The need for a less confused understanding of CPD and its purposes is underlined, as is the need for school based approaches to continuing teacher education. Arguably, teacher education must move from technicist emphases to a model which integrates the social processes of change within society and schools with the individual development and empowerment of teachers
The development of Scotlandâs Curriculum for Excellence: Amnesia and DĂ©jĂ Vu
Scotlandâs new Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) has been widely acknowledged as the most significant educational development in a generation, with the potential to transform learning and teaching in Scottish schools. In common with recent developments elsewhere, CfE seeks to re-engage teachers with processes of curriculum development, to place learning at the heart of the curriculum and to change engrained practices of schooling. This article draws upon well-established curriculum theory (notably the work of both Lawrence Stenhouse and A.V. Kelly) to analyse the new curriculum. We argue that by neglecting to take account of such theory, the curricular offering proposed by CfE is subject to a number of significant structural contradictions which may affect the impact that it ultimately exerts on learning and teaching; in effect, by ignoring the lessons of the past, CfE runs the risk of undermining the potential for real change
Adolescents' reflections on school-based alcohol education in the United Kingdom: education as usual compared with a structured harm reduction intervention
Alcohol consumption by adolescents in the United Kingdom (UK) remains high. School-based interventions are expected to play a key role in preventing adolescent alcohol consumption. A series of focus groups were conducted with pupils who received alcohol education as usual and pupils who received a Northern Ireland adaptation of the School Health and Alcohol Harm Reduction Project (SHAHRP), a universal alcohol education program designed to reduce the harms experienced by young drinkers. This study sought to compare and contrast the participantsâ engagement with and enjoyment of the different alcohol education that they had received. Focus groups were completed with 129 pupils in 16 schools in Northern Ireland and Scotland. Alcohol education as usual was viewed negatively and was regarded as unstructured, boring, repetitive, and unrealistic. In contrast, the adaptation of SHAHRP was viewed positively and was regarded as enjoyable and worthwhile, and engaging and relevant to the participantsâ experiences of alcohol use. These findings suggest that one reason why alcohol education as usual may not be successful in preventing adolescent drinking and protecting adolescents from negative outcomes may be due to its failure to engage participants. Higher acceptability by pupils means that the adaptation of SHAHRP may be one viable alternative
Applying the trigger review method after a brief educational intervention: potential for teaching and improving safety in GP specialty training?
<p>Background:
The Trigger Review Method (TRM) is a structured approach to screening clinical records for undetected patient safety incidents (PSIs) and identifying learning and improvement opportunities. In Scotland, TRM participation can inform GP appraisal and has been included as a core component of the national primary care patient safety programme that was launched in March 2013. However, the clinical workforce needs up-skilled and the potential of TRM in GP training has yet to be tested. Current TRM training utilizes a workplace face-to-face session by a GP expert, which is not feasible. A less costly, more sustainable educational intervention is necessary to build capability at scale. We aimed to determine the feasibility and impact of TRM and a related training intervention in GP training.</p>
Methods
We recruited 25 west of Scotland GP trainees to attend a 2-hour TRM workshop. Trainees then applied TRM to 25 clinical records and returned findings within 4-weeks. A follow-up feedback workshop was held.
<p>Results:
21/25 trainees (84%) completed the task. 520 records yielded 80 undetected PSIs (15.4%). 36/80 were judged potentially preventable (45%) with 35/80 classified as causing moderate to severe harm (44%). Trainees described a range of potential learning and improvement plans. Training was positively received and appeared to be successful given these findings. TRM was valued as a safety improvement tool by most participants.</p>
<p>Conclusion:
This small study provides further evidence of TRM utility and how to teach it pragmatically. TRM is of potential value in GP patient safety curriculum delivery and preparing trainees for future safety improvement expectations.</p>
Learning Progression in the Humanities: Identifying tensions in articulating progression in Humanities in Wales.
The paper explores tensions in the articulation of progression in learning across
the Humanities disciplines. Informed by our review of research in the Humanities
disciplines, international curricula on progression in these areas, and reflections
from professional activity within the newly defined Humanities âArea of
Learning and Experienceâ (AoLE) in the new Welsh curriculum, this paper
describes how learning progression in Humanities has been conceptualised within
the new curriculum and then delineates and critically reviews four challenges that
emerged when identifying and describing progression in learning in the new
Humanities curriculum. Tensions include the relationship between disciplines;
the balance between knowledge, skills and values; the differences between
underlying models of progression in Humanities; and balancing the complexity of
learning with practical considerations for a national curriculum. Underpinned by
the Integrity Model of Change, this paper makes a contribution, through
providing new insights on broad aspects of learning progression in Humanities
and highlighting potential benefits and challenges of taking particular decisions
within each of these four tensions. Implications for curriculum planning and
future research are offered, including the fundamental role of professional
learning in curriculum development and enactment
Avoiding, diagnosing and treating well leg compartment syndrome after pelvic surgery
Background
Patients undergoing prolonged pelvic surgery may develop compartment syndrome of one or both lower limbs in the absence of direct trauma or preâexisting vascular disease (well leg compartment syndrome). This condition may have devastating consequences for postoperative recovery, including loss of life or limb, and irreversible disability.
Methods
These guidelines represent the collaboration of a multidisciplinary group of colorectal, vascular and orthopaedic surgeons, acting on behalf of their specialty associations in the UK and Ireland. A systematic analysis of the available peerâreviewed literature was undertaken to provide an evidence base from which these guidelines were developed.
Results
These guidelines encompass the risk factors (both patientâ and procedureârelated), diagnosis and management of the condition. Key recommendations for the adoption of perioperative strategies to facilitate prevention and effective treatment of well leg compartment syndrome are presented.
Conclusion
All surgeons who carry out abdominopelvic surgical procedures should be aware of well leg compartment syndrome, and instigate policies within their own institution to reduce the risk of this potentially lifeâchanging complication
Patient attitudes towards medical students at Damascus University teaching hospitals
Background: The cooperation of patients and their consent to involve medical students in their care is vital to clinical education, but large numbers of students and lack of experience as well as loss of privacy may evoke negative attitudes of patients, which may sometimes adversely affect the clinical teaching environment. This study aimed to explore the attitudes of patients towards medical students at Damascus University hospitals, and to explore the determinants of those attitudes thus discussing possible implications applicable to clinical teaching. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at three teaching hospitals affiliated to the Faculty of Medicine at Damascus University. Four hundred patients were interviewed between March and April 2011 by a trained sociologist using a structured questionnaire. Results: Of the patients interviewed, 67.8 % approved the presence of medical students during the medical consultation and 58.2 % of them felt comfortable with the presence of students, especially among patients with better socio-economic characteristics. 81.5 % of the patients agreed to be examined by students in the presence of the supervisor, while 40.2 % gave agreement even in the absence of the supervisor. Privacy was the most important factor in the patients â reticence towards examination by the students, whilst the relative safety and comfort if a supervisor was available determined patients â agreement
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