As an occupational therapist, I have dedicated my career to facilitating mastery and independence of specific occupations to improve a client's quality of life. In the classroom, I use this same approach in facilitating learning to enhance the knowledge, clinical skills, and growth of all occupational therapy students to become confident entry-level therapists. I am committed to a standard of excellence and the fostering of inspirational relationships conducive to new learning and the sharing of ideas to achieve these goals. I believe the student-teacher relationship depends on open communication, a safe learning environment, and mutual respect where feedback fosters academic and clinical growth.
Open communication is critical in the facilitation of learning. Students must feel comfortable asking questions, seeking new information, and responding to peers. An ice-breaking game played at the beginning of each class encourages students to address peers, laugh, and feel comfortable in the classroom. Students are provided the opportunity and encouraged to share information, knowledge, experiences, and even difficulties in each class meeting. Students are provided my email and office hours and instructed to contact me at any time with a prompt response provided.
A safe learning environment is necessary for effective learning. I include every student in all active learning activities, discussions, collaborations, and laboratory demonstrations through the assignment of peer groups. I present course material utilizing auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learning styles as all students do not learn the same way. I provide diverse examples in each learning module to ensure each student finds the coursework relatable and meaningful to transition new knowledge to real-world experiences. My goal is for each student to feel safe engaging in the classroom to promote academic and clinical skills.
I establish mutual respect from the first class meeting. I list expectations on the syllabus and discuss them at the beginning of each semester. I post classroom rules and procedures visible to all students. Students are encouraged to treat one another with respect with appropriate responses and dialogue on all discussion boards and classes. Proper behavior is modeled by addressing each student by their name and getting to know each student through meaningful discussions to build a lasting rapport to facilitate the teacher-student relationship.
In closing, my goal is for each student to achieve all learning objectives, develop foundational knowledge, and advance their clinical skills to become effective entry-level therapists. These goals are accomplished through open communication, providing a safe learning environment, and establishing mutual respect for a lasting relationship. I assess progress routinely through exams, return demonstrations, case study analyses, journal reviews of evidence-based practice, and class projects. I adjust teaching methods as needed to ensure the successful development of all objectives. My passion is teaching and cultivating new therapists to enter the workforce with excellent skills, confidence, and the desire to be great in their chosen setting!