Our Learning Environment

Sports ER aims to create and cultivate positive, supportive environments for learning and professional development where all course participants feel valued and trust exists between them and the instructors.

During ‘skill learning’ and ‘skill application’ sessions, where a ‘learning by doing’ approach is exploited, participants should feel reassured that they can make ‘performance errors’ or ‘mistakes’ which will not be viewed negatively, but as opportunities for improvement. 

Sports ER will create a safe learning environment in which learners are encouraged to question, challenge and demonstrate reflected performance and practice.

To promote participant enquiry and a better understanding and retention of content knowledge, multimodality, active problem-based learning (PBL) is encouraged using:

  • peer group open-discussions / question and answer sessions

  • formal interactive lectures

  • workshops

  • skill stations (for skill learning)

  • scenarios/moulages (for skill application)

Course content is taught in accordance with prevailing accepted practice which reflects contemporaneous clinical evidence supported by responsible bodies of medical opinion, and complies with current Resuscitation Council (UK) and European Resuscitation Council protocols. 

At all times learning is positioned in a sport context to make the learning environment authentic. The courses focus on the development of the practical skills which a participant would be expected to apply as part of their clinical duties and allow them to function as a competent, safe and effective ‘pitchside practitioner’ when providing emergency medical care for athletes with life-threatening and the more common acute medical presentations in sport. There is an emphasis on the management of realistic incidents from both clinical and non-clinical perspectives, reflecting the typical experiences of the participants.

Using a learner-centred approach, participants are encouraged to engage in their own learning and development; respecting and capitalising on their existing knowledge and skills and building upon them. We also view course delivery as a shared learning experience; participants are invited to share their expertise and personal experiences with their fellow participants.

To bring the practical activities to life, participants are encouraged to actively participate and play a role. Between the activities participants change roles to give other participants the opportunity to perform a range of skills, lead and experience other functions within a team. Ample opportunities are given for participants to practice and demonstrate competency in a range of skills.

Sports ER uses a comprehensive range of high-quality training equipment and resources during course delivery to facilitate the training.