Lawson, Aaron, Stewart, Jill ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3031-8082, Oatt, Paul, Eadie, Robert and Turner, Ellis (2026) Training environmental health housing practitioners without active work experience: can virtual learning using 360 photospheres offer a viable alternative? In: A Focus on Pedagogy 2025. Amps-Proceedings-Series: "Emerging Theories, Teaching and Technologies", 47 (3). Architecture Media Politics Society (AMPS), Leeds Beckett University, UK, Marywood University, USA, KU Leuven, Belgium, pp. 93-102. ISSN 2398-9467

Preview

PDF (OA Conference Proceedings) 54316 STEWART_Training_Environmental_Health_Housing_Practitioners_(CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS)_2026.pdf - Published Version Download (17MB) | Preview

Abstract

With a decline in traditional work placements supporting academic programmes developing skills and competencies for front-line practitioners, effective new forms of learning are needed to best replicate ‘real world’ experience. Here our focus is on the niche area of housing inspection training for environmental health professionals in the UK, but the lessons arising from this have far greater applicability. The challenges of such training go beyond the traditional classroom in real time: the rapid development of virtual learning during the Covid -19 epidemic, combined with austerity measures within public sector organisations that traditionally supported work placements, have created new opportunities. The situation has become particularly acute both for recruiting new staff, but also to retain existing and experienced staff. Our parallel research also considers what the wider workforce gaps are and how these might be filled going forward. The challenges are multiple and complex, both in numbers of people needed in the profession, but also the quality of their training, its affordability to public sector training budgets, the manner in which it might be both offered and the learning assessed. This paper reviews work taken to date to develop 360 photospheres in supporting synchronous and asynchronous virtual learning to help support learning needs that require multiple, complex areas of knowledge, skills and application. We present our developments to date and discuss the journey still ahead in creating a viable resource capable of substantial impact and wider applicability in supporting the training needs of front- line environmental health practitioners.

Item Type:	Conference Proceedings
Title of Proceedings:	A Focus on Pedagogy 2025
Additional Information:	A Focus on Pedagogy: Emerging Theories, Teaching & Technologies, AMPS Proceedings Series, Vol. 47, Issue 3 (ISSN 2398-9467). Conference hosted by Leeds Beckett University (UK), Marywood University (USA), and KU Leuven (Belgium), 19-21 November 2025. Edited by Aurelie De Smet, Michelle Pannone, Kim Hagan, Ben Hall and Jo Hassall. Published by Architecture, Media, Politics, Society (AMPS). Conference held in 2025; proceedings volume published 31 August 2026.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	housing inspection, regulation, 360 technology, photosphere, training
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences L Education > LC Special aspects of education > LC5201 Education extension. Adult education. Continuing education N Fine Arts > N Visual arts (General) For photography, see TR N Fine Arts > NA Architecture
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development > Centre for Inequalities Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > School of Human Sciences (HUM)
Last Modified:	03 Sep 2026 11:05
URI:	https://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/54316

Actions (login required)

View Item

Downloads