MW0416 - The Professional Midwife: Foundations as Student and Scholar

You will learn through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and directed study. Activities will be blended to create a mix of face to face and online activities supported by the University’s Electronic Learning Platform Blackboard Ultra. Seminars will be smaller group sessions designed to facilitate collaborative team learning developing your inquiry and communication skills and signpost further reading and learning activities (SPM 5.13.1). Communication workshops will also be in smaller groups to facilitate refection, peer support and feedback through experiential and role play approaches to learning (SPM 5.13.1). A range of resources will be used to consolidate your searching and retrieval skills, including technology enhanced learning (SPM 1.4, 1.23). You will be introduced to the University library, especially the digital resources, and to other resources to support your academic development such as ‘mind-mapping’ and planning tools. A fundamental aspect of learning on the module will come from self-reflection of your own academic and professional development supported by your peers and module tutor (SPM 1.27).

The module will utilise a flexible approach to learning whilst developing independence and confidence your own abilities to managing your learning and development. As appropriate in year one, the module team will provide support and guidance within a structured framework of personal development, encouraging you to set goals and reflect on your progress. The module will utilise peer review as an introduction to the evaluative and feedback skills required for effective professional practice and lifelong learning.

An initial self-assessment and evaluation of learning needs will be produced within small, peer-support groups, leading to an individualised plan for the achievement of module outcomes (SPM 1.26, 1.27, 5.13.1). The module team will also provide support and feedback during learning activities and in relation to the module assessment strategy. Lecturers and personal tutors will also signpost you to support services available at the university.
The University Library can help you develop a variety of learning skills, including academic writing, academic reading, searching, and referencing (SPM 1.23).

You can access the interactive training via the library webpages or the following link: http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/learning-skills (SPM 1.23)

Ask4Help online (accessed through your student portal) provides a comprehensive range of answers to frequently asked questions and is of benefit to students as a central point of reference for information about many different topics. Ask4Help face to face service points are located at Coach Lane Library (ground floor).

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Describe forms of evidence that may inform midwifery practice and demonstrate understanding of the process and techniques available to identify and retrieve evidence.
2. Discuss the professional expectations of the midwife in relation to the NMC code.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3. Demonstrate effective approaches to learning and study skills for higher education and midwifery practice.
4. Describe the principles of effective communication and relationship development with others.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. Develop skills of self-reflection to inform professional development.

Formative
Small group seminars using peer and tutor feedback to discuss proposed search strategy for essay.

Small group seminars using peer and tutor feedback to develop 500-word personal reflective learning plan.

Summative
2000 word essay on a topic from the module which demonstrates academic writing, use of evidence and utilisation of feedback through reflection on formative assessment opportunities (100%). MLO 1,2,3,4 & 5

Feedback through ESAF platform via marking rubric and qualitative feedforward comments.

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This module starts your journey to becoming a Northumbria Graduate and a registered midwife by focusing on the professional and academic skills required. Midwives make a critically important contribution to the quality and safety of maternity care through a commitment to continuous professional development, evidence identification and retrieval skills, personal reflection and excellent communication skills (SPM 1.11, 1,12). The module sets the tone for research rich learning in the curriculum, utilising a range of teaching and learning strategies. These include small group seminars, technology-enhanced learning and library support. You will work with your peers to develop a personal learning plan and will complete an essay to demonstrate the academic skills you have developed. The professional expectations of midwives will be explored (SPM 1.19) with a focus on the experience of women and concepts such as informed consent and service user contributions to evidence for practice (SPM 1.21).