Enhancing Public Health Practice Through a Regional Student Field Placement Program

Abstract

Introduction and Background Experiential learning is critical for equipping students for real-world community practice. This type of training involves practice-based learning through seasoned mentor support, professional reflection, and direct hands-on experience in authentic work environments. While constructing knowledge requires practice, practice also requires knowledge; experiential learning links the two (Higgins, 2009; Klein-Collins, 2013; Yardley, Teunissen, & Dornan, 2012). Universities are increasingly incorporating experiential learning into their curricula via techniques such as field experiences, discipline-specific applied learning, cooperative education, and service learning (Austin & Rust, 2015; Ryan, Toohey, & Hughes, 1996). In addition to general college programs, experiential learning is widely applied across health-related professional programs, including public health (Cox,

Utilization of the "Connecting the Dots" Worksheet to Engage Undergraduate Students in Health Promotion Program Planning

“…Preliminary data showed that use of the worksheet allowed students to visualize the links between program objectives and corresponding activities so that they produce more viable program plans in HPPI and implement programs that are more effective for the community in HPPII. Public health pedagogy should include tools within the classroom that facilitate students' ability to translate classroom experiences to community-based settings (Anderson, Royster, Bailey, & Reed, 2011;Carvalho, McCormick, Lloyd, Miner, & Alperin, 2017). The following are lessons learned through use of the tool within the classroom setting:…”

Training Program Design: A Public Health Education Internship Supervisor Training E-Module

“…Accredited health professions and public health education programs typically require a supervised experience that not only benefits the intern but also benefits a community. In one internship program, interns used work plans and reflections to meet academic competencies while contributing to agency mission and future workforce development (Carvalho et al, 2017). In another study, interns rated their public health internship highly.…”

“…Supervisors educate interns on worksite culture and expectations as interns create project-based deliverables to meet authentic agency needs. An increased emphasis on internships as experiential learning activities in public health education is recommended, though, to sustain the public health workforce (Carvalho et al, 2017).…”

Connecting Public Health Students to Rural and Underserved Areas: Promoting Health Equity Through Field Placement Experiences

“…Field placement experiences are intended to enhance a student’s professional skills and knowledge while also affording them the opportunity to use skills learned in the classroom. Placements provide mutually beneficial opportunities for agencies and students to address critical needs among MUPs (Carvalho, McCormick, Lloyd, Miner, & Alperin, 2017). Field placement experiences are structured and include specific elements including a competency-based work plan, agency deliverables, reflective writings, and evaluation surveys (Bryan, Kreuter, & Brownson, 2009).…”