Exploring the range of clinical learning spaces

This chapter extends the description of clinical learning spaces provided in Chapter 9 to include learning spaces that were found to form beyond the immediate workplace. Narelle’s research revealed that powerful clinical learning continued in spaces beyond clinical workplaces. Three examples of these learning spaces that were identified as particularly influential on student learning are portrayed in this chapter. These were car travel (both alone and with other students, other health professionals and clinical supervisors), student accommodation and student activity.These clinical learning spaces that formed beyond clinical workplaces are illuminated as fluid and powerful spaces as well as quiet spaces for reflection, in which physiotherapy students’ professional practice capabilities could be developed and wellbeing nurtured. This chapter explores the way in which these spaces were encountered and experienced by the physiotherapy students in Narelle’s research and the powerful way the students’ encounters with these spaces created unique learning spaces that significantly shaped student learning. Finally, given the significant contribution of these spaces to students’ clinical learning implications for workplace learning preparation and debriefing sessions are explored.