Assessment Opportunities During the Clinical Placement

Profession specific skills and tasks

• Observation of session with clients
• Exams and tests with and without clients
• Practical sessions with other students

Clinical reasoning: Combining and integrating knowledge, skills and attitudes

• Asking the student to manage a case
• Observe the planning, sequence and care of the case
• Review client goals and the rationale for treatment

Knowledge

• Direct questioning
• Exams
• Observe the way the student explains knowledge to the client
• Ask the student to present a case to you – does the student refer to a knowledge base when diagnosing and suggesting treatment options

Professional behaviour, communication and teamwork

• Observe student’s interaction with you, other health professionals and support staff
• Ask the student to complete reflections or self-assessments
• Observe behaviour in the group (easier if you have multiple students on placement)
• Observe dress
• Take note of if the student arrives on time, takes appropriate breaks and advises you if they are going to be late

Achieving positive outcomes for clients: safe and effective practice

• Observation of clinical performance
• Comments by the client or other health professionals
• Examine how much supervision is required – compare the amount of supervision at the beginning, middle and at the end of placement

Reasoning and thinking processes

• Direct questioning: Ask the student to talk about and explain the reasoning process behind a decision
• Written reports
• Written intervention plans
• Case notes
• Case presentations
• Case conferences
• Letters to other health professionals

Work-readiness

• Increase student independence
• Increase time pressures
• Increase number of clients or number of complex clients