Key Terms used in the ClinEdAus website
Note: Several terms used throughout this website are based on the literature reviewed at that time and used interchangeably.
Clinical educator/supervisor/coordinator: The person who provides the same type of service to upcoming students as one’s supervisor provided to oneself; includes setting clear learning goals and expectations; provides feedback (formal and informal); facilitates self-directed learning opportunities; and undertakes an evaluation before the final evaluation to enable monitoring of progress (Stagnitti, Schoo & Welch, 2013, p404).
Clinical placement/student placement/practicum/fieldwork placement: The placement of students in professional fields where they can gain hands-on experience before graduating; it (a) can occur at different levels of courses - for example, expectations for fieldwork placement at first year are very different from those required in a final year of placement; (b) can occur in a variety of settings that have differing expectations; and (c) has specific requirements imposed by some professions (Stagnitti, Schoo & Welch, 2013, p404).
Facilitation: A process of teaching in which the teacher endeavours to create a learning environment which is conducive to learning and aims to enable or empower the learner (McAllistair, 2004, p219, cited in Health Education & Training Institute, 2012, p 11).
Health Education & Training Institute (HETI): Provides state-wide leadership and coordination in education and training of clinical and non-clinical health professionals working in NSW Health to ensure that the workforce has the necessary skills and knowledge to deliver high quality patient care to the people of NSW (Health Education & Training Institute, 2012, p3).
Health Workforce Australia (HWA): An initiative of the Council of Australian Governments to address the challenges of providing a skilled, flexible and innovative health workforce that meets the needs of the Australian community, now and into the future (Health Workforce Australia, 2011).
Peer learning: A learning experience involving pairs or small groups of students, providing constructive student-driven feedback, aligned with specific learning goals of one’s peers (Stagnitti, Schoo & Welch, 2013, p410).
Student practitioners/supervisees/students: The student attending the clinical practicum.
Supervisory relationship: The professional relationship between the clinical educator and the student facilitating the learning process throughout the clinical placement.
Teaching through training: Discrete planned events used to instruct people how to perform specific, defined skills or procedures (Marsick & Volpe, 1999, cited in Health Education & Training Institute, 2012, p 11).
