Date post: | 13-Jan-2015 |
Category: |
Education |
Upload: | eportfolios-australia |
View: | 550 times |
Download: | 2 times |
Use of an ePortfolio tool to support specialisation in
physiotherapyLindsey Maggs & Vicki Smith
The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA)
• Peak body representing physiotherapists in Australia - over 12,000 members
• Advocate & support physiotherapy access for Australia’s population
• 7 Branches – national representation
• National Office Divisions:
– Learning & Development
– Membership
– Advocacy and International Relations
– Corporate Services
– Marketing and Communications
Learning and Development Division
• Members must complete 20 hours of CPD per annum
• Current professional development opportunities
– Lectures
– Courses
– Conferences
– Breakfasts
– Webinars
– Online learning
National Groups
• Musculoskeletal
• Sports
• Business
• Acupuncture and Dry Needling
• Animal
• Paediatric
• Neurology
• Gerontology
• Continence & Women’s Health
• Cardiorespiratory
• Aquatic
• Occupational Health
• Educators
• Leadership & Management
Member Lifelong Learning Pathway
Australian College of Physiotherapists (ACP)
• Only Fellows of the College are Specialists
• Virtual college
• Fellowship by Specialisation first granted in
1984
• Most disciplines have a specialisation pathway
Becoming a Specialist Physiotherapist
Pre 2011
• Original contribution – Submission of thesis or
published works
• Interim pathway
– Recognition of higher standing
– Meet specific criteria
– Final exam
Now
• Original contribution – Submission of thesis or
published works
• Training programme
– Two years
– Mentoring & evidence of:• Research• Clinical practice• Professional Development• Contributing to the
learning of others
– Final exam
Becoming a Specialist Physiotherapist
Pre 2011• Original contribution
– Submission of thesis or published works
• Interim pathway– Recognition of higher standing– Meet specific criteria– Final exam
Now
• Original contribution – Submission of thesis or
published works
• Training programme
– Two years
– Mentoring & evidence of:• Research• Clinical practice• Professional development• Contributing to the
learning of others
– Final exam
Why ePortfolio, not Portfolio?
• Advantages of online environment
• Benefits for the participants
– Virtual area – access anywhere, anytime
– Private space
– Online discussion at a distance
• Benefits for the facilitators
– Private
– Discussion of ideas with other facilitators
Training Programme: Design
• Applications opened only to Musculoskeletal and Sports candidates
• Total of 17 applications
– 12 candidates accepted
• Group split into five cohorts
• Cohort = facilitator, plus two to three candidates
• Three cohorts of musculoskeletal candidates
• Two cohorts of sports candidates
Cohort 1: QLD Musculoskeletal
Cohort 2: VIC Musculoskeletal
Cohort 3: WA Musculoskeletal
Cohort 4: QLD Sports
Cohort 5: VIC Sports
All Cohorts
Implementation
• Training for facilitators
• Candidates sent log-in details and instructions
• Gateways set up
• Template webfolio shared
• Q&A webinar for all
• Example webfolio shared
Professional Practice Standards (PPS)
• Learning contract with action plan
• Standards to rate performance
• Transferred to a profile builder• Self-rate
– Scale of 1-5
• Evidence
Action Plan for PPS
• Produce action plan to achieve required standards
• Made up of:
– Current situation
– Steps to success
– SWOT analysis
– Supporting resources
– Reflection
• Formed learning contract between the candidate and the ACP
Action Plan for PPS
What Else?
• Uploading articles and videos for discussion• Blogging• Evidencing the four key elements:
– Clinical skills– Education of others– Professional development– Research
ePortfolio
Webfolios
Feelings Towards the ePortfolio Tool
• “The opportunity of sharing and discussing a wide range of cutting edge research papers, clinical problems and opinions with peers at one site has been inspiring and a great learning opportunity.”
• “Great for supervisors to oversee what is going on without talking face to face.”
• “An excellent resource to allow collation, and presentation, of information and resources.”
• “I hope to be able to continue to use Pebblepad following completion of my specialisation training program to further assist my professional development as a physiotherapist."
The Future of ePortfolios at APA
• Roll-out to all members
• Implement for our Titling Program
• Recording system for CPD hours
• eJournal Club
• Mentoring tool for new grads
• Possible engagement of international participants in PD
Thank You
We would like to acknowledge the
Australian Physiotherapy Association and
the Australian College of Physiotherapists
for their assistance with this project and
presentation.