Dare to reflect? Incorporating work-based simulation and reflective practice in physical activity and health

Higher education institutions acknowledge that employers want students to be primed for the workplace. One method by which this can be achieved is incorporating work-based simulation into teaching and assessment practices. This pedagogy model intended to create an environment that is replicable to those commonly experienced by NHS health professionals, on the BSc Physical Activity and Health degree pathway. It involved incorporating learned theory into a work-based simulation setting, whereby students conducted a fifteen minute lifestyle consultation with a prospective 'patient'. A novel aspect to this assessment process was that the interview/lifestyle consultation was filmed and placed on the University's streaming server. This allowed the student an opportunity to reflect on their performance of key communication and theory reasoning skills, and to devise strategies that will facilitate improved future performance.