Lordly Daphne
Department of Applied Human Nutrition, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
Can J Diet Pract Res. 2007 Winter;68(4):207-12. doi: 10.3148/68.4.2007.207.
Prior learning assessment (PLA) is a process for documenting competence gained through formal and informal opportunities. It has been endorsed by adult educators but is not widely used in dietetic education. Graduate students at a Canadian university, who have prior learning relevant to dietetics, are given the opportunity to develop a portfolio documenting competence in lieu of portions of formal internship experience. An exploratory descriptive methodology is used to describe the experiences of graduate students (n=6) and faculty (n=3) who participated in this innovative program from 2000 to 2005. All students successfully completed portfolios for one-third or more of their internship. After completing the documentation process, students participated in semi-structured interviews consisting of 16 open-ended questions. Faculty completed a five-item survey designed to capture their experiences with the PLA process. Student and faculty data were thematically analyzed and several risks and benefits were documented. Results indicate that, overall, both students and faculty viewed the PLA as a positive experience. Because of the limited placements available for practical internship experiences, PLA can be a useful process for the confirmation of dietetic competence.
先前学习评估（PLA）是一种记录通过正式和非正式机会获得的能力的过程。它已得到成人教育工作者的认可，但在饮食教育中并未广泛使用。加拿大一所大学的研究生，若有与饮食学相关的先前学习经历，就有机会制作一份记录能力的档案袋，以替代部分正式实习经历。采用探索性描述方法来描述2000年至2005年参与这一创新项目的研究生（n = 6）和教师（n = 3）的经历。所有学生都成功完成了实习三分之一或更多内容的档案袋。完成记录过程后，学生参加了由16个开放式问题组成的半结构化访谈。教师完成了一项旨在了解他们在PLA过程中经历的五项调查。对学生和教师的数据进行了主题分析，并记录了若干风险和益处。结果表明，总体而言，学生和教师都将PLA视为一次积极的经历。由于实际实习机会有限，PLA对于确认饮食学能力可能是一个有用的过程。
