Action learning and public health pedagogy: Student reflections from an experiential public health course

IntroductionApplied practice experiences are essential components of the Masters of Public Health (MPH) curriculum. The objective of this study was to examine students’ perspectives on the skills and expertise they developed in an MPH course offering applied practice opportunities.MethodsOf 236 students who took the course from 2008 to 2018, email addresses were obtained for 212 and 104 completed the consent form. Following consent, reflection essays were de-identified and analyzed using a rapid qualitative analysis approach. The essays addressed students’ learning experiences and application of the competencies for MPH programs set by the Council for Education in Public Health (CEPH). Deductive and inductive analytical lenses were used to identify the key lessons learned by each cohort of students. Semi-structured guides and matrixes for essay analysis were created using assignment instructions and CEPH competencies.ResultsAlthough the reflection paper assignment varied across the years, commonalities were observed in the student reflections. Key themes included turning theory into practice, navigating the complex environment of public health practice, skill building, critical sel