CE Article: Becoming a Fieldwork Educator: Enhancing Your Teaching Skills

Ingrid Provident, EdD, OTR/L, Mary Lou Leibold, MS, OTR/L, Cathy Dolhi, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Joanne Jeffcoat, MEd, OTR/L

Earn .1 AOTA CEU (1 NBCOT PDU/1 contact hour)

ABSTRACT
Level II fieldwork education can be one of the most influential elements of a student's preparation for practice. The 2007 American Occupational Therapy Association's (AOTA's) Ad Hoc Committee to Explore and Develop Resources for Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Educators stated that "fieldwork education is a primary driver in transforming our current practice into meeting the 2017 Centennial Vision" (AOTA, 2007a, p. 14). Often, fieldwork educators taking their first student have only their own Level II fieldwork experiences to guide their teaching. Few occupational therapy practitioners have formal training in education. The purpose of this article is to provide the fieldwork educator with teaching tools and strategies that can be incorporated to enhance efficiency and effectiveness as a fieldwork educator and to maximize the student's learning during the fieldwork experience. Being aware of teaching-learning styles will also aid in setting realistic expectations for the fieldwork experience. Although this continuing education article provides an overview of these topics, it should be noted that a more thorough presentation of this material is available through AOTA's Fieldwork Educators Certificate Program (AOTA, 2009a) which is being offered nationwide by regional trainers.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After reading this article, you should be able to:

1. Identify the importance of customizing the fieldwork experience by incorporating the student's strengths, liabilities, academic preparation, and curriculum design into the experience.
2. Identify students' learning styles.
3. Identify teaching styles to facilitate student learning.
4. Recognize the value of developing student-specific learning objectives for fieldwork experiences.
5. Identify tools available through AOTA to maximize the fieldwork experience for the fieldwork educator and student.

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Article and exam are valid through August 31, 2011.

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