Policy statement: Education

Education is the process through which learning takes place and the learner changes practice as a result. The goal of

See Physical therapist

education is to facilitate the continuing intellectual, professional, and personal development of students and qualified physiotherapists. Physiotherapists apply their learning continuously and use it to develop and improve their professional practice through a process of reflection, as they evolve from student to novice and to experienced/expert practitioner. Learning can be effectively facilitated in a number of ways, including formal teaching,

Self-directed learning: In its broadest meaning, 'self-directed learning’ describes a process by which individuals take the initiative, with or without the assistance of others, in diagnosing their learning needs, formulating learning goals, identify human and material resources for learning, choosing and implementing appropriate learning strategies, and evaluating learning outcomes.

Self-directed learning behaviour regarding a learning task is characterised by:

• responsibility for and critical awareness of the individual learning process and outcome;
• a high level of self-direction in performing learning activities and solving problems;
• active input to decision-making; and
• the use of the educator as a resource person.

See also Learning

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, practice-based learning, technology-based,

Collaborative learning: Refers to occasions when students from two or more professions in health and social care learn with, from and about each other during all or part of their professional training with the object of cultivating collaboration during the practise of their profession

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, and learning from and through experience.

To support implementation, you can access all World Physiotherapy education resources here.