MW0519 - The Professional Midwife: Developing the Student and Scholar

You will learn through a combination of lectures seminars 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. Lectures will introduce you to a variety of concepts and theories related to research methods and process, as well as theories of communication. Seminars will provide you with the opportunity to work in groups and explore research and communication skills through an experiential approach that allows you to rehearse your developing skills. A range of resources will be used to consolidate your research and communication skills, including technology-enhanced learning, and engaging with social media.

The academic staff involved in delivering this module will provide guidance and academic counselling to ensure that you are able to confidently engage with the academic rigour of this module. This dialogue will be face-to-face in lectures, seminars or individual tutorials and is an essential aspect of the programme’s assessment for learning strategy. Seminars will form an opportunity for lecturer and peer support and feedback throughout the module as you rehearse your developing insights and abilities concerning midwifery research and advanced communication skills. Information, source material and suggestions for directed and independent reading and activities will be available via the module blackboard site. In addition, the module will be supported by University library staff and resources, including study skills support packages. The library service caters for all your learning needs, has extensive access to electronic texts and tutorials that will directly support the development of academic skills aimed at improving your critical thinking and analytical writing.

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. Apply a range of research methodologies and evaluation strategies and methods commonly used in midwifery.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
2. Critical appraisal of the design and findings of research relevant to midwifery practice.
3. Examine and demonstrate communication skills pertinent to midwifery practice.
4. Discuss legal and ethical considerations in relation to midwifery research and professional practice.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. Appraise progress as a professional and scholar.

Formative
Seminars will provide an opportunity for you to explore and rehearse your developing skills regarding midwifery research and advanced communication skills, providing you with academic and peer feedback throughout the module.


Summative
1) 20 minute presentation to peers. Focus ‘Consideration of the integrity of the coverage within the media of a Maternity topic of current interest to pregnant women, through identifying and critiquing the underpinning research evidence’ Marked by academic (100%)
(MLOs 1, 2, 3, 4)

2) Personal reflection and development plan for year two learning (500 words) submitted electronically. Pass Fail
(MLO 5)

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

N/A

N/A

A pre-requisite to becoming a midwife is the ability to effectively critique and communicate evidence to women and families. This relies on the midwife having the knowledge and skills to identify and appraise the quality, appropriateness and sufficiency of the evidence used to inform and evaluate practice. Ethical considerations within research and practice are explored including the engagement of service users in research and legal and professional issues including informed consent. The module provides the opportunity to rehearse and develop advanced communication skills. The module will continue your journey to becoming a midwife who can support evidence-informed practice decisions, which will benefit the care of women, babies and families. In response to technological advancements, social media as a means of communication will be examined and the assessment has been designed to facilitate building confidence in presentation skills.