THE PORTFOLIO WORKBOOK AS A STRATEGY FOR STUDENT CENTERED LEARNING

This paper describes the portfolio workbook as a strategy to support s tudent-centred learning in nurse education, The portfolio workbook com bines the use of reflection on prior experiences, forward planning to meet identified course outcomes, critical incident analysis and a refl ective journal to ensure the integration of theory with practice, This enables the student, rather than the teacher, to control the educativ e process, and thus develops the skills of autonomy and decision-makin g envisaged in the development of Project 2000 courses. In using a wee kly add-on format, the workbook provides a comprehensive record of the student's learning, whilst at the same time monitoring progress and f acilitating the acquisition of knowledge and skills, The use of reflec tive practice from the beginning of the course, and reinforced through out, enables the student to internalize the process as a way of identi fying and managing their own learning needs. The author concludes that this strategy would be appropriate for all types of nurse learners; h owever, a precondition for this is an espousal and commitment by teach ers to student-centred philosophies and methods of learning.