Learning portfolios: an opportunity for continuing professional development

By Sujin Lee, Pharm.D., BCPP, Clinical Pharmacist - Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins Hospital

Learning is a life-long process. With the changing role of the pharmacist, individuals must take an increasingly active role to ensure their continuing professional development. Continuing professional development (CPD), based on the principles of Kolb’s learning model, is a structured, self-directed, outcomes-focused cycle of learning involving reflection, planning, action, evaluation and documentation. The reflection stage requires the individual to consider their current practice and assess their knowledge, skills, and competence to identify areas of development and improvement. The planning and action stages allow the individual to create and implement a personal learning plan, addressing the needs that were identified. Goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, and relevant. Plans may include structured programs (i.e. CE programs) and informal learning opportunities and based on the individual's learning style(s). The evaluation stage assesses the effectiveness of the educational interventions and the utility and success of the plan. Although self-evaluations are important, evaluations from supervisors, peers, students and others may also provide valuable insight. Documentation of activities provides evidence that development has occurred. A portfolio allows individuals to organize their learning activities and serves as a comprehensive demonstration of their development and competency. Although there is no universally accepted format for a learning portfolio, the goal is to include documents that represent the individual stages discussed above. The contents can include reflective diary entries, presentations, evaluations, etc. The key is quality, not quantity! Ideally, the learning cycle continues by repeatedly returning to the reflection stage.

By definition, a portfolio is “a selection of work compiled over a period of time and used for assessing performance or progress.” Traditionally, a portfolio is used during annual performance evaluations. However, the portfolio has evolved so that today, with the inclusion of introspection and self-assessment, it can be used for professional development. For example, in the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada, licensing agencies require practitioners to maintain a learning portfolio as evidence of CPD to demonstrate and enhance competency. Although the portfolio is not a requirement at this time in the United States, there are pilot projects in progress. Using the experiences of our international colleagues as models, the Department of Pharmacy at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health Care (San Antonio, Texas) implemented a portfolio system. Submitted during annual evaluations, the portfolios were reviewed by supervisors, managers, and the director of pharmacy. Initially, individuals did not fully appreciate the value of the portfolio and most had difficulty identifying their personal learning needs, articulating professional goals, and developing a strategy. However, over time, acceptance, comfort and familiarity of the portfolio process increased and the quality and comprehensiveness of the portfolios improved.

Based on the recommendations of Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), colleges of pharmacy now require students to maintain a portfolio during their academic career; residency programs also use portfolios for accreditation purposes. To assist them, many professional associations, including ASHP and APhA, are providing students and residents with tools to develop their portfolio. Unfortunately, some may view the portfolio as a “scrapbook of rotation memorabilia” and many find the initial stages difficult or tedious; however, the activities required in these early stages may provide the most benefit. The reflection and planning stages are critical to maximize the learning portfolio experience: an honest self-appraisal must occur to identify areas that require further development. The “action” phase then allows individuals to take a committed role in developing and implementing their personalized plan. By making learning more tangible, individuals are also able to reinforce the information by relating their academic and clinical assignments to the skills and knowledge that they will use in the future. Without a true investment in the learning cycle, students and residents may view the portfolio as just another assignment that they must complete.

The principles of the learning portfolio can be used by educators to assist students and residents to further their development. Although the creation of a portfolio is highly recommended, students and residents may not have the opportunity to prepare one, depending on their schedule (i.e. one month rotation vs. twelve month program). However, the principles of “continued professional development” can still be addressed. For example, the five stages of the learning cycle may be discussed with the student or resident before and after an assignment and during the midpoint and final evaluation. The entire process may be difficult for students and residents to accomplish on their own. However, with the assistance from preceptors and mentors, the student's or resident's experiences may be enhanced. Moreover, this process will ideally lead to a more reflective learner and result in a lifelong cycle of continuing professional development.

In summary, the learning portfolio may become a requirement for pharmacists in the future. Indeed, it is already part of the licensure process in many other countries. Based on the recommendations of national pharmacy organizations, portfolios have become requisites for successful completion of the Doctor of Pharmacy degree and residency training programs. However, in order for portfolios to be successful, individuals must invest themselves in the learning process; otherwise, the experience will likely be a burden rather than an opportunity for continued self growth and development.

To learn more read: Purcell K. Use of performance portfolios for pharmacy personnel. Am J Health-Syst Pharm 2009;66:801-4.

[Editor's Commentary: Reflection and planning are important ingredients to self-development. Learning portfolios can assist us in the learning process and help us meet personal and professional goals. Portfolios can take many forms. Many people continue to maintain paper-based portfolios ... but in this digital age, web-based portfolios enable us to store a wide variety of interconnected media - not just documents. I can image a day when our personal and professional development, from birth to death, is warehoused on a personal website. These sites make our reflections, plans, actions, evaluations, and outcomes of our learning readily available to our teachers and mentors anywhere in the world. If you'd like to get started building your own digital portfolio, check out Dr. Helen Barrett's eletronic portfolio site at: http://electronicportfolios.com/ and series of her presentations at: http://eportfolios.blip.tv/ Her keynote address to the National Institute for Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) is a great introduction to this topic. - S.H.]

I Have No Idea What It Means to be a Teacher

by Michael Wunder, Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate, Palm Beach Atlantic University Gregory School of Pharmacy

I have seen every stage of a teacher. I have seen the passion of one who has found the profession. I have seen the fulfillment of one who has retired for the profession. I have seen the joy, worry, suffering, sorrow, anger, elation, and laughter that have come with this profession. I am the son of a teacher, the brother of a teacher, and the husband of a teacher, and I have no idea what it means to be a teacher.

I spent every summer growing up reorganizing classrooms, putting up bulletin boards, and copying papers. I have helped grade papers in the fall, winter, and spring. I have cut out numerous shapes and laminated a million papers. I have broken down boxes and moved classrooms and closed classrooms. I have no idea what it means to be a teacher.

I have seen a child learn to read. I have seen a child learn to count. I have seen a teenager stand in class and declare that they understood Holden Caulfield. I have seen a teenager learn accounting. I have seen a teacher rejoice at each of these moments. I have seen a teacher hold a moment like these for the rest of their life. I have no idea what it means to be a teacher.

I have seen a child refuse to listen, scream, and throw crayons. I have seen a teenager throw a desk, stab another student, and then threaten the life of a teacher. I have no idea what it means to be a teacher.

I have seen the letters from parents praising a teacher for reaching their child’s life and encouraging their soul. I have seen the letters from parents threatening to sue a teacher because their child did not get enough attention. I have seen administrators and school districts turn their backs on their teachers. I have seen hours of lesson plans and curriculum meetings be tossed to the side because of the disruption of one student. I have no idea what it means to be a teacher.

I have seen a teacher cry in a classroom. I have seen a teacher cry at home. I have heard a teacher curse many a student and administrator too. I have heard a teacher whisper “I just don’t know what to do.” I have heard a teacher scream, “That’s it, I’m through.” I have no idea what it means to be a teacher.

I have seen a teacher cry when their student past a reading test they worked so hard for. I have seen a teacher smile when a student says “I’ll miss you.” I have seen a teacher laugh and feel true achievement as two teenage boys acted out … in Don Quixote. I have seen a teacher cry recalling when police took a student right out of his chair for murder. I have no idea what it means to be a teacher.

I have seen a teacher anticipate what their students might be like. I have seen a teacher clean up a party and say their goodbyes. I seen a teacher work a summer job to earn enough to pay for that rug they need for their reading center. I have seen a teacher stand in a field after graduation because a student wants that picture with their favorite teacher. I have heard a kindergartener say “I love you and I don’t want to have another teacher.” I have seen the letter from a death row inmate who was pulled from his chair in class that says, “Miss, I am sorry for interrupting your class. You were the only one that ever cared.”

I have no idea what it means to be a teacher.

[Editor's commentary: I think this essay by Michael Wunder says it all. -S.H.]

Implementing Self-Directed Learning

By Sandeep Devabhakthuni, PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Resident, University of Maryland Medical Center

Self-directed learning is basically the process in which an individual matures from a dependent learner in a highly structured environment (often a classroom) to an independent learner with the motivation to continuously self-monitor and self-manage his/her learning process. In the healthcare setting, the recent paradigm shift to evidence-based medicine requires the engagement of healthcare professional students in self-directed learning. Typically, healthcare professional schools design academic curriculums that will at minimum prepare students to become competent practitioners. While I learned a tremendous amount of information that will serve me well in my clinical practice, I realized that the program of study I completed was designed to help me achieve the minimum competencies needed to be a general practitioner. Despite having just graduated with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, I recognize there are several ways I can improve myself. Thus, I am a big proponent for self-directed learning because I want to become a highly competent healthcare provider.

Self-directed learning is an effective (even essential) method for training healthcare professionals. But how do we motivate students to become self-directed life-long learners? Specifically, is there a need for more guidance during the didactic portion of the curriculum before expecting students to perform self-directed learning activities during their experiential learning rotations? At the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP), Huynh et al considered this issue by investigating the impact of advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) on student’s readiness for self-directed learning (Am J Pharm Educ. 2009; 73(4): 65-72).

In this investigation, the authors followed pharmacy students over the course of their last year in the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum in order to assess their readiness to engage in self-directed learning activities. During their third year before starting APPEs, pharmacy students from were invited to complete a questionnaire consisting of 2 sections: the Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale (SDLRS) and a baseline characteristics survey. A score of 150 or greater on the SDLRS instrument was correlated with a high level of readiness for self-directed learning. After completing the required APPEs, the pharmacy students were asked to complete the SDLRS instrument again. The data from the post-APPE questionnaire was compared to the results of the pre-APPE questionnaire.

The authors reported that 77 (64%) and 80 (67%) students completed the questionnaire in the third and fourth year, respectively. Of these respondents, only 46 (38%) matched pairs completed the questionnaire in both years. From the baseline characteristics analysis, none of the characteristics such as age, gender, pre-pharmacy coursework, postgraduation plans, or leadership experiences had an impact on the SDLRS score. The overall mean SDLRS score for the pharmacy students who completed the questionnaire in the third year and fourth year were 157 ± 21 and 162 ± 21, respectively. No difference was found in the mean scores on the SDLRS for students in their third and fourth years (p > 0.05), regardless of using all student data or only matched pairs (i.e., same student before and after completion of APPEs) data.

To be honest, I was not entirely surprised that the impact of APPEs on the student’s readiness for self-directed learning was minimal. Pharmacy students need to be ready to engage in self-directed learning before they begin their experiential learning rotations. If the student does not have the expectation of performing self-directed learning during the APPEs, the student will struggle during his/her last professional year. Teaching students to engage in self-directed learning during the APPEs is probably too late. The students need to be aware of the need for self-directed learning before they apply the process during APPEs. The fact that the APPEs have a minimal impact on the student’s readiness supports this observation. Instead, the purpose of the APPEs is to provide the pharmacy student opportunities to engage actively in self-directed learning. Thus, it is crucial to provide guidance to the pharmacy students before APPEs on how to successfully engage in self-directed learning activities during APPEs.

At the time of the investigation, the authors reported that the pharmacy students at the UMSOP were not provided explicit instruction regarding how to conduct self-assessments or engage in reflective learning. The good news - most students demonstrated a high readiness for self-directed learning at baseline before beginning their APPEs. The focus should shift to helping students applying self-directed learning skills during their APPEs. In other words, preceptors should evaluate whether students successfully engage in self-directed learning activities. By giving feedback regarding the quality of these self-directed activities, students will learn how to self-evaluate and take steps to improve their knowledge and skills when they begin their practice as pharmacists.

[Editor's Commentary: Why are some people more successful in their professional lives then others? What keeps some people "on top" of their field for many years? Is it strictly a matter of internal motivation? An intrinsic personality trait? An inherent need to understand the world? Intellectual curiosity? Or is self-directed learning a learned behavior? A set of skills, habits, and attitudes learned by observing other successful people in our lives (e.g. parents, role models). Can these skills, habits, and attitudes be taught in school? Few of us have received explicit instruction about how to "be" a self-directed learner. Not surprisingly, students who are admitted to schools of pharmacy are very bright and successful. It seems likely that one of the ingredients for their success is their ability to independently recognize gaps in knowledge and skills ... and engage in self-development activities to close these perceived gaps. Indeed, the "best and brightest" often become involved in research projects (or "special projects" or "independent study") during their years in pharmacy school and pursue residency or fellowship training after graduation. And yet, these are the individuals who are most competent and best prepared to entry practice without doing a residency or fellowship. Is the ability to successfully engage in self-directed learning an intrinsic quality or a learned behavior? Is it nature or nurture? An age old debate. -S.H.]

Passive versus Active Learning

By Josephine Heinz, Pharm.D., PGY1 resident, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore

I remember the long hours I sat through my pharmacokinetic classes wondering what all the symbols my instructor was talking about meant. Wow, I thought, does all this really happen in a patient? Most of the equations were meaningless abstractions to me and it didn’t make any more sense to me at the end of the lecture.

Healthcare concepts are most often learned through traditional methods where the instructors figuratively pour information onto their students and students sit passively hoping they could retain all the knowledge and recall it for an exam. I had flashbacks to my experience as a pharmacy student when I read an article by Robert Dupuis and Adam Persky (Am J Pharm Educ 2008; 72(2): Article 29.) The investigators applied the principles of active learning to enable students to develop critical thinking, self-direction and practical application of information related to pharmacokinetics. Students were divided into small groups, assigned cases and had to present it to the entire class in the presence of the instructor. Individual responsibility was also emphasized by assessing each student’s preparedness for the presentation by quizzing them before class and also comprehensive examinations. Members of each group were chosen by the instructor based on their knowledge and skills rather than permitting students to make the groups for themselves. By placing students with various knowledge and skills together, this allowed students to understand how others think through problems. In their study, the authors compared the new teaching strategy to a traditional, passive approach of teaching the material. They found that not only did the students like this active teaching approach better; they could also relate the concepts to clinical practice and felt comfortable and confident when addressing real patient cases.

This study answered some questions that perplexed me as a pharmacy student. The traditional educational paradigm is like a "Container-Dispenser model" – it assumes the transference of knowledge is primarily the instructor's job and students' minds are like empty receptacles (Bonwell CC, Eison JA. Active learning: Creating excitement in the classroom. ASHE-ERIC Higher Education Report No. 1. Washington, DC: The George Washington University, School of Education and Human Development; 1991). Students are expected to passively absorb information in silent isolation during a lecture and later on, recall the knowledge when given a test or assessment. A lot of passive teaching occurs in pharmacy schools, and most students only get to apply the knowledge they have acquired during experiential rotations in the final year of the curriculum. This leaves the students feeling frustrated and inadequate because they cannot answer commonly encountered medication problems. This year, during my residency, I’ve heard students say “I just want this rotation to be over,” because they feel they have no time to sit down and read through all the lecture notes they have accumulated over the years. This is a concern for our profession. Do we have to force all graduates from doctor of pharmacy programs to get an additional year of practical training, or can we address the current curriculum to include more self-directed and active learning?

I recommend that we follow the example of Dupuis and Pesky by incorporating more active learning strategies into the pharmacy curriculum. Active learning is more than just "doing" but requires the student to "think about the things they are doing.” With active learning, the responsibility for learning shifts from the instructor to the student. Let us create an environment similar to what students will face in the real world so that they do not flounder when they get into practice. The challenge today is to encourage students to move beyond standard technical solutions and apply clinical reasoning. Active learning promotes the development of abilities in addition to knowledge, attitudes that employers require, and behaviors that better meet the demands of professional practice.

[Editor's Commentary: Active learning strategies - engaging students in meaningful activities - work. Active learning strategies generally require students to find the information (facts) for themselves and to apply this newly acquired (and their existing) knowledge to solve a problem. Many teachers (at schools of pharmacy and elsewhere) have embraced these strategies and use them extensively throughout their courses. Others are experimenting and use these strategies sporadically. Still others are unwilling or, perhaps, afraid to try. Admittedly, active learning strategies are a bit messy and the teacher must relinquish control of the content and the process. And if you extensively employ active learning strategies you can't tell students about all the great knowledge YOU possess. And isn't teaching all about sharing your wisdom with others? Not exactly. The teacher's knowledge and wisdom is no doubt important. It should help guide the creation of meaningful learning activities and authentic assessments of performance. Teachers and experts are great resources to students during their learning voyage. But telling people about everything YOU know isn't particularly helpful ... and it won't help a student construct their own understanding of the material and how to apply it. If you want to include more active learning strategies in your classroom, check out the Active-Learning Inventory Tool created by Jenny Van Amburgh and her colleagues at Northeastern University. -S.H.]

Mobile Technology in the Classroom

by Sherry Kelishadi - Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate (2011), University of Maryland School of Pharmacy

As a 3^rd year pharmacy student at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, an article entitled Mobile Computing Initiatives Within Pharmacy Education by Cain and colleagues caught my attention for various reasons [Am J Pharm Educ. 2008; 72: Article 76]. Mobile computing technology has impact me personally during my journey through pharmacy school. During my first semester at Maryland, I was transitioning from handwriting my notes to typing them. I was concerned because I wasn’t sure if laptops would have a positive or negative impact on my learning in the classroom. I was attracted to those students who were typing rapidly on their laptops, seemingly able to jot down every word that came out of the professor’s mouth. Over the years, I have adapted to my laptop. I can research answers to drug information questions, access learning materials on Blackboard, and download notes and references. My personal belief is that all pharmacy students should use mobile computing devices in class because they give greater access to resources. However, they should only be used for educational purposes. In other words, browsing the internet and not paying attention during a lecture/case study/ or group discussion is unacceptable and can lead to poor performance.

The article by Cain discusses the impact that laptops and personal computers have had on pharmacy student’s education. More and more pharmacy schools are using laptops – and many require them. There are several advantages and disadvantages to using these technologies. The advantages include students being able to have online access to Micromedex/Epocrates/Facts and Comparisons during lectures in institutions where internet is accessible. Also, students have immediate access to lecture materials and cases. The disadvantages: professors becoming frustrated by students distracted playing puzzles, shopping, instant messaging, posting on facebook, engaging in online fantasy sports games, and web browsing. Personally, I have witnessed first hand the advantages and disadvantages of mobile technology. Daily I see students browsing the internet during a lecture or case study. And I suspect this leads to poor test scores. Indeed, in one study that I found, students who multitasked with laptops during lectures performed significantly lower on simple measures of lecture content recall than those who did not multitask [Hembrooke H, Gay G. The laptop and the lecture: The effects of multitasking in learning environments. J Comput Higher Educ. 2003;15:46–64].

These manuscripts tie into Educational Theory and Practice in many ways. As this course discusses effective ways to teach, it’s important to engage students with the material and not be distracted. Is it more effective to use computers in the classroom or should students just take notes the old fashioned way? I personally believe it doesn’t matter what technology is used (computer vs. pen & paper). The crucial part is the teacher-student relationship. For example, a recent professor of mine was lecturing on HIV and during 2 hours looked up at students only twice. Thirty minutes into the lecture, EVERYONE was doing something other than note taking. Professors should engage their students by periodically asking questions throughout the lecture and making eye contact. This will help students to stay focused on the material regardless of how they are “writing things down.” In addition, professors should have “mini quizes” periodically at the conclusion of lectures to determine what students learned and this will create an incentive for them to pay attention.

Whether a pharmacy school requires its students to use laptops or not, it need not have a negative impact on learning. I believe the crucial part of learning isn’t what technology the students use, but rather how the professors engage students with the material. Students can become distracted with or without a laptop. I have sat through many boring lectures in pharmacy school but also lectures that kept us on our toes. As we have been learning in this course, there are two sides: effective learning and effective teaching. It’s important for both the professor and student to understand their roles and responsibilities … and to use technology effectively to maximize the learning and teaching process.

[Editor's Commentary: I think there is little doubt that mobile technologies can be both a positive and destructive force in the classroom. We've all suffered through "boring lectures." In the past (before mobile technologies infiltrated every aspect of our lives), we'd simply zone out or doodle or have a side bar conversation to pass the time. Now, rather than doodle away, we can engage people inside and/or outside the classroom in virtual dialog, we can shop, we can pull up our notes for tomorrow's big exam, or we can play highly engaging games without leaving our seat. Its all there - at our finger tips. And because we (and our students) have become accustomed to engaging with our mobile devices during even the briefest moments of "down time" (even when driving a car), it's hard to keep us continuously focused for long periods of time. Of course, we never could stay focused for long periods of time ... but now we have something readily available that allows us to be more "productive" ... and distracted. Obviously, these distractions (mobile technology-induced or otherwise) aren't conducive to learning. Unfortunately, mobile technologies - particularly laptops, can be distracting to other students in the environment too - just like those students who sat in the row behind you and constantly whispered to one another did in the past! Just seeing another student in front of you searching for the best deals on a cruise to Hawaii or playing fantasy football can catch your eye ... and suck you in! So what is a teacher to do? The strategies are the same as they have always been. Engage students by (re)gaining their attention, fostering a dialog, and allowing the students to use the power of technology in meaningful ways to achieve a learning objective. In other words, teachers need to harness the technology for OUR purposes ... otherwise students will find better ways to use the technology for THEIR purposes ... like fill in the void caused by boredom. S.H.]