Neurorehabilitation analysed through ‘situated learning’ theory

This paper proposes a perspective of learning in the context of neurorehabilitation. Central concepts from Lave and Wenger's theory of situated learning are presented as a promising theoretical perspective to grasp the problems typically encountered by professionals and a strategy to analyse the effectiveness of rehabilitation strategies aimed at everyday activities. Empirical data from field studies and focus group interviews describing rehabilitating efforts were analysed and discussed using central concepts from the ‘theory of situated learning’. We found that professionals are challenged when including patients with severe brain injury as ‘participants’ in the ‘rehabilitation practice community’. Systematic use of the proposed learning concepts may support rehabilitation professionals to facilitate and challenge patient participation and learning during rehabilitation. Two interrelated levels of pedagogical challenges exist: (1) supporting the gain of the patient or compensation for changed learning abilities and (2) supporting the patient in learning or compensating for lost abilities.