Personal learning outcomes of structured work-based learning in a summer vacation work placement in community pharmacy

Abstract

Abstract If work-based learning is to become an acceptable and accredited part of an undergraduate course, it is essential to incorporate assessment methods in order to measure the students' learning outcomes. Learning outcomes can be subject based or personal. The development of intra- and interpersonal skills by students as a result of work-based learning would lend credit to such learning. This paper describes the methods used to assess the development of students' personal learning outcomes as a result of participation in structured work-based learning activities in a vacation training programme in community pharmacy. Overall, quantitative and qualitative results show that, during work-based learning, the students were able to develop personal skills such as communication, teamworking, motivation, confidence, professional attitudes and decision making. The development of some of these skills would be difficult to achieve in the academic environment.