Professional Discussions

Some of our courses require professional discussions as a mandatory assessment method while others require this as an addition mainly to cover gaps and consolidate existing evidence. Your assessor will discuss with you the use of professional discussions as part of your holistic plan.

Professional discussions require you to actively take part in a discussion regarding key parts of your course. Although they are guided by questions these are mainly to instigate a discussion that will enable you as the learner to provide in-depth responses which in turn allow you to demonstrate knowledge, analytical thinking and practice.

Evidence of Planning
There should be evidence of planning a professional discussion before one takes place. Your assessor will discuss with you the key areas that are going to be part of the discussion prior to one taking place.

Please ensure you complete the
Professional Discussion Preparation Record form and submit it to your assessor with all supporting evidence.

When there is no evidence of planning the discussion will be classified as a normal answering and questioning session. This has less value as an assessment method and will be used to only convey knowledge. This will not allow you to demonstrate any practice.

Recording and Length of session
All professional discussions will be recorded electronically and should ideally not be more than 20 minutes in length.

Quality of evidence
All evidence for your course should fully meet the principles of assessment.