Developing the next generation of occupational therapists: use of learning communities to facilitate student understanding of authentic occupational therapy tasks
Conference Contribution ResearchOnline@JCUAbstract
Background: Active engagement in activities using critical thinking to understand assessment requirements is known to improve students' performance. This project aimed to facilitate occupational therapy students' understanding of professional report writing based on practice education. Method: A series of workshops were run with a cohort of occupational therapy students in their first and then their second year of studies. Workshops focused on students co-creating assessment handy hints with activities progressively graded to increase student independence. Activities included critique of exemplars and student peer-to-peer critique of assignment drafts. Evaluation and ana lysis was through an online survey containing likert scale and open ended questions. Discussion/Outcomes: A higher proportion of responding first year students than second year students felt: 1) the workshops provided clarity of assessment expectations; and 2) exemplars of a high and low grade assisted in understanding assessment standards. A higher proportion of responding second year students than first year students felt: 1) the workshops provided an opportunity to develop and/or demonstrate their ability to contribute effectively to team-based tasks; and 2) the workshops were useful for their learning. Different student engagement styles also emerged: prescriptive, facilitative and se lf directive. Conclusion: Outcomes and reasons for participating in assessment handy hints workshops were different between first and second year and also between students within the same year. This project assists in understanding where resources can be directed in order to facilitate the development of occupational therapy students into our next generation of occupational therapists.
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NT/QLD Division OT Conference: Pratitioners of the Future
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1
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Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Occupational Therapy Australia
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Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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