SPEF-R2 Training

The “How To” of Customising Item Examples

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  2. SPEF-R2© Modules
  3. Module One: Before the Student Arrives
  4. Part Two: Completing Key Tasks Before Your Student’s Arrival

What is meant by "customising" item examples, and how do I do it?

The SPEF-R2© has been designed so that it works across the broad range of practice placements students now encounter. As a practice educator, you are encouraged to further enhance the "fit" of the evaluation to your workplace. This is done by customising item examples, that is, providing information in relation to each item to reflect what it means in your workplace. How you customise item examples depends on the format of the SPEF-R2 you are using.

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In the SPEF-R2 Online version, you can develop and save your own SPEF-R2 template. To develop a customised SPEF-R2 template, choose the “SPEF-R2 Templates” option from the SPEF-R2 Online Educator Home Page. Practice educators are able to develop and save multiple templates for use across varied placement contexts, and can edit these as placement and service factors evolve over time. Consult the “SPEF-R2 Online Instructions for Educators”, available within the online site for more details.

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It is strongly recommended that before your student arrives you work through each of the item banks you will be using and customise the item examples as described above. If you work with other Occupational Therapists it may be helpful to brainstorm this process together. Consider starting with the item bank you think will be the easiest, and work from there.

 

"When it first went online and when it was first suggested that we customise… I did it straight away. And I’m really glad that I did. When students first come in on placement, I print them off a copy. I get them to check and read through all the comments I’ve added so they’re aware of what they mean in the workplace." - Practice Educator

 

It will be important during orientation to provide your student with a copy of the evaluation, with your customised items added to ensure clarity about what to expect and what will be required. It will also be an invaluable tool to use throughout the placement to support clear communication and to assist with planning.

What do I do if an item itself is not going to be relevant to the student during the practice placement?

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As you work through the evaluation you may decide that the occasional item is not applicable to your workplace. Alternatively it may cover something that you do, but the behaviour/skill won't be required of your student. Be sure to indicate this by ticking the appropriate N/A box on the hard-copy evaluation form, or by selecting the appropriate check-box in the online system. It will be important to pass this information on to your student during orientation.

Won't customising items take a lot of time?

While working through this process will take time initially, it generally only needs to be done once. The same examples will be relevant to future students who come to your workplace. From time to time you may want to update your examples in response to student feedback or as new ideas come.

 

"I would strongly suggest to anyone using the SPEF with students to have specific examples relating to their own caseload. It makes it much easier and clearer for students and CEs and although it warrants a little extra time and effort on the CE's part, it does only have to be done once and then those caseload specific examples can usually continue to carry over to future student placements." - Practice Educator

 

View a vignette of a practice educator customising item examples for her workplace.

[Running time: approx 3 mins]