Professional Certificate in Practice Education

Do you want to take your practice educator career or supervision skills to the next level? Then the Professional Certificate in Practice Education could be of interest to you.

Within the program you will have the opportunity to:• Explore different practice education models• Increase your understanding of the practice education environment• Analyse your own role in practice education and gain insight into your key responsibilities and tasks• Grow your professional network• Become a member of our online community of practice for practice educators• Explore various supervision strategies of learners in the workplace • Improve your skills in managing difficult supervision situations• Grow your coaching skills in a coaching practicum• Study together with colleagues in an interprofessional online community.

PurposeThe purpose of the program is to increase your understanding, skills and expertise in supervising learners in the workplace through reflection on your current practice and applying new models, approaches, tools and instruments, in line with your (organisation’s) goals and priorities.

About the ProgramThe Professional Certificate in Practice Education comprises of two University of South Australia 4.5 unit courses (a full year load is 36 units), with five modules in the first course, and four modules in the second course.

Course 1: Being a Practice Educator: Role and Environment• Module 1: Practice Education Context• Module 2: The Clinical Environment as a Learning Environment• Module 3: Role Analysis and Professional Development Plan• Module 4: Your Professional Network• Module 5: (Optional) Study Day

Course 2: Supervising and Facilitating Learners in the Work Setting• Module 6: Supervision Strategies that suit your Learners• Module 7: Managing Difficult Situations • Module 8: Coaching Practicum• Module 9: (Optional) Study Day

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EnrolmentsEnrolments are open throughout the year, corresponding with the start dates of individual modules. See the course calendar below for more information about intake numbers and dates.

Flexible Learning and Teaching ApproachChoice of study options

Participants can choose to undertake one or more modules or enrol in the Professional Certificate as a whole. Only those successfully completing the two 4.5 unit courses will gain the Professional Certificate in Practice Education. On completion of each module a certificate of successful completion, with the workload hours nominated, will be provided for evidence of continuing professional development.

Online with optional live interaction and face-to-face components

The Professional Certificate in Practice Education is a fully online program, with optional weekly teleclass sessions to deepen learning and to encourage learning from and with each other. Asynchronous interaction takes place on a continuous basis through designated discussion forums. Each of the courses also has an optional face-to-face study day. The program for these days will be put together based on the needs of participants.

Individual mentoring

You will need to select a mentor for the duration for the program. Having a mentor will support you enhancing your learning and putting new approaches into practice.

Timeline and course calendar

Each course starts on a set date as seen below. You are free to pace yourself through the modules and the program, but greatest benefit will come from following the prescribed pathway with a cohort of colleagues with whom you form a virtual community of practice. The average workload is seven hours per week.

* Includes a two week teaching break

Course Calendar Start Date End DateEnrolment Numbers per Intake

Course 1: Being a Practice Educator 29 July 2013 17 November 2013

• Module 1 29 July 2013 18 August 2013 40

• Module 2 19 August 2013 15 September 2013 10

• Module 3* 16 September 2013 27 October 2013 10

• Module 4 28 October 2013 17 November 2013 10

• Module 5 (optional study day) TBA

Course 2: Supervising and Facilitating Learners in the Work Setting

29 July 2013 24 November 2013

• Module 6* 29 July 2013 24 November 2013 10

• Module 7* 29 July 2013 24 November 2013 10

• Module 8* 29 July 2013 24 November 2013 10

• Module 9 (optional study day) TBA

Course 1: Being a Practice Educator February 2014 June 2014 40

Course 2: Supervising and Facilitating Learners in the Work Setting

February 2014 June 2014 10

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Assessments

Every module within each course (excluding the face-to-face study days) has associated assessed activities, to provide you with feedback on your learning. The assignments are very practical, based on your personal situation, and result in the creation of a useful product; such as a plan, template, mindmap or report. These products are designed to help you implement new aproaches for your practice as a supervisor.

Entry and EligibilityThe Professional Certificate is available to health professionals who supervise either students, and/or staff within their work roles. It should be noted that, as the program is delivered online, it is expected you have sufficient computing skills to engage in online learning, word processing, and browsing the internet. You will also require reliable access to the internet in order to access the online learning resources.

Group or one-on-one orientation to online learning will be provided to participants unfamiliar with online learning.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Credit is available for participants who have completed the University of South Australia, Division of Health Sciences ‘Being a Clinical Educator’ workshop between 2009 and 2012. This is equivalent to the completion of either module 5 in Course 1 or module 9 in Course 2.

Credit is also available for participants who have completed the three day Supervision Training by Margaret Morrell from Vibrant Training. This is equivalent to the completion of two modules of Course 2 (module 6, 7 or 8). To be eligible for credit, passing an associated assessment is required. Participants who have completed ‘Teaching on the Run’ training will be eligible for credit of one assessment piece from Module 6. Contact us for more information.

Fee StructureEach course will cost $900, with the total cost for the Professional Certificate being $1800. An overview of the fee structure and the cost breakdown per module is listed in the table below.

(Prices are inclusive of GST)

Course/Modules Fee Structure

Course 1: Being a Practice Educator $900

• Module 1 $200

• Module 2 $275

• Module 3 $175

• Module 4 $125

• Module 5 $125

Course 2: Supervising and Facilitating Learners in the Work Setting

$900

• Module 6 $200

• Module 7 $200

• Module 8 $375

• Module 9 $125

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Program Content

A brief summary of the content of the courses and modules is provided below.

Course 1: Being a Practice Educator: Role and Environment

The aim of this course is to ensure that participants are familiarised with the clinical and practice education environment, the scope, width and depth of their role as a practice educator, as well as to maximise learning in a clinical or practice environment.

On completion of this course, participants should be able to:• Understandthepracticeeducationcontextand

curriculum• Analysewhichpracticeeducationmodelappliestotheir

own practice situation• Assesstheroleofthepracticeeducatorintermsofkey

responsibilities and key tasks, and develop a personal development plan

• Establishanetworkwithotherpracticeeducators.

Module 1: Practice Education ContextParticipants will use a range of resources about the current practice education environment, to paint a picture of key issues in the practice education context of their own health discipline. You will audit, analyse and reflect on significant changes and developments in practice education in the last decade, current issues, future developments and how these influence your role.

Module 2: The Clinical Environment as a Learning EnvironmentIn this module you will audit, analyse and reflect on the current practice education and supervision model(s) used within your work environment. The next step is then to use the data collected to plan and develop the ‘ideal’ practice model which fits with your organisation’s goals and priorities. What would you change? How would that benefit you, the learner, your workplace, and the education provider? And lastly, what needs to happen to get to this ‘ideal’ model?

Module 3: Role Analysis and Professional Development PlanThis module aims to create awareness of where you are in your practice educator or supervisory role, of key responsibilities and tasks and your learning needs. You will assess your current role, formulate your own learning goals and complete a professional development plan.

Module 4: Your Professional NetworkDeveloping a professional network is important in terms of support, staying sharp and feeling connected. In this module you will participate in a process that builds and grows a community of practice about practice education and supervision. You will also map your current professional connections and perform a gap analysis to find out where you could grow your network. Lastly, you will identify strategies of how to utilise your network.

Module 5: (Optional) Study DayThe study day is a face-to-face workshop day, conducted at the University of South Australia’s City East campus in Adelaide. The aim of the day is to deepen participants’ learning on the topics of this course. The study day is an optional module and only for those participants who are enrolled in Course 1 as a whole.

Course 2: Supervising and Facilitating Learners in the Work Setting

The aim of this course is to facilitate learning and supervision of learners, according to adult learning principles and approaches, and manage diversity in learners’ abilities and skills.

On completion of this course, participants should be able to:• Facilitatepracticelearningwithinanadultlearning framework, by applying adult learning principles

and approaches• Applyvariousstrategiestoaccommodatediversityin

learners’ abilities and skills when supervising• Communicateeffectivelyaspartofthesupervision

process.

Module 6: Supervision Strategies that suit your LearnersParticipants will use a range of resources about supervision strategies and adult learning principles to develop a planned supervision approach. You will practice and execute the approach in your work practice, reflect with your peer group on the outcomes on a regular basis, and conclude the module with a report in which you justify the supervision decisions you have made.

Module 7: Managing Difficult SituationsParticipants will use a range of resources about managing difficult situations in a supervisory role to develop a planned supervision approach. You will practice and execute the approach in your work practice, reflect with your peer group on the outcomes on a regular basis, and conclude the module with a report in which you justify the supervision decisions you have made.

Module 8: Coaching PracticumThe practicum runs alongside modules 6 and 7. It is a safe learning environment where participants work on relevant coaching skills, to increase reflective practice by their learners, accountability and responsibility. You will be required to coach as well as to observe your peers while they are coaching.

Module 9: (Optional) Study DayThe study day is a face-to-face workshop day, conducted at the University of South Australia’s City East campus in Adelaide. The aim of the day is to deepen participants’ learning on the topics of this course. The study day is an optional module and only for those participants who are enrolled in Course 2 as a whole.

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Further Information

Health and Clinical Education at UniSALed by Professor Esther May, Dean: Health and Clinical Education, the team develops, manages, monitors and reviews the Teaching and Learning Plan for the Division of Health Sciences and runs professional development activities.

Contact details:Ms. Kat Kenyon, Teaching and Learning Support OfficerTelephone: (61 8) 8302 1188Facsimile: (61 8) 8302 1116Email: Kat.Kenyon@unisa.edu.au

Level 5 Playford BuildingCity East CampusNorth Terrace Adelaide SA 5000GPO Box 2471Adelaide, South Australia 5001

The University of South Australia reserves the right to alter, amend or delete any program, fee, course, admission requirement, mode of delivery or other arrangement without prior notice. Information correct at time of printing (November 2012).

CRICOS provider number: 00121B

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