Facilitating student engagement and initiative-taking with workplace learning challenges: The change laboratory methodology

Abstract

Introduction: Workplace-based learning (WBL) or Work-integrated learning (WIL) is an important pedagogy that prepares students for the world of work. However, students may experience challenges during their work practice, inhibiting their learning. Through reflecting on their WBL experiences and understanding the historical and systemic nature of challenges they experience, students may be able to take the initiative in raising and potentially addressing some of these challenges. This sort of reflection and initiative-taking can be facilitated by engaging students outside the workplace in a series of structured workshops collectively called a ‘change laboratory’ (CL). This paper reports on the students' engagement in a CL and assesses the potential of the CL in promoting students' initiative-taking in WBL. Methods: Eight structured CL workshop sessions were held with seventeen final-year Bachelor of Radiography Degree students who voluntarily participated in the CL sessions after ethics approval was obtained. Results: Alongside other challenges, qualified radiographers were sometimes dismissive and unsupportive of students’ WBL. To address these and other difficulties, students suggested an improved WBL system focusing on teamwork between students and qualified radiographers to facilitate patient-centred care and student learning. Conclusion: CL is proposed as a valuable tool for students learning about and taking initiative in addressing WBL challenges. Implication for practice: The research is expected to open new avenues for improving radiography students’ WBL experiences at this specific university.