TOWARDS A STRATEGY FOR LEARNING - THE RESPONSE OF PRACTICES TO THE LIVERPOOL PILOT SCHEME FOR EXTRAMURAL STUDY

This paper presents the responses of veterinary surgeons to a pilot sc heme initiated by the SILVER project. The scheme was designed to incre ase communication between a veterinary school, host practices and stud ents undertaking extramural study ('seeing practice') and to provide a more structured use of the students' time. The work is set in the con text of recent interest in work-based learning as part of undergraduat e education, the approach being based on experience gained from a numb er of professions, including veterinary science, Students were require d to identify,and communicate their personal learning objectives to ho st practices in advance of their arrival, and practices were asked to collaborate in a new system for recording students) progress. The pape r presents an analysis of the evidence obtained from questionnaires se nt to pilot practices. It shows that all the elements of the scheme ha d been received favourably and had had a positive impact on student le arning, The findings are discussed in relation to the development and implications of an educational strategy for extramural study.