Related Experiment Videos
Evaluating the effectiveness of occupational therapy faculty development workshops
Maralynne D Mitcham1, Carol J Lancaster, Beth M Stone
1Occupational Therapy Educational Program, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Health Professions, Medical University of South Carolina, PO Box 250700, 77 President Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, USA. mitchamm@musc.edu
Summary
Occupational therapy faculty found development workshops effective, reporting improved teaching practices and progress. These workshops enhanced skills in course design, implementation, and evaluation over time.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Therapy Education
- Faculty Development
- Higher Education Pedagogy
Background:
- Faculty development programs are crucial for enhancing teaching quality in higher education.
- Occupational therapy programs require faculty with strong pedagogical and clinical skills.
- Evaluating the long-term impact of faculty development is essential for program improvement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the long-term effectiveness of occupational therapy faculty development workshops.
- To gather participants' perspectives on workshop benefits and impact on teaching practices.
- To identify future faculty development needs in occupational therapy education.
Main Methods:
- A survey was distributed to 179 occupational therapy faculty participants.
- Data collected included demographics and perceptions of workshop effectiveness.
- Key areas assessed were instructional content benefits, teaching practice changes, and faculty progress.
Main Results:
- A 63% response rate was achieved (n=106).
- Most respondents were early-career faculty (72% with <5 years experience).
- Participants valued face-to-face interaction and observing master teachers, leading to improved course design, implementation, and evaluation skills.
Conclusions:
- Occupational therapy faculty perceived the workshops as effective in improving teaching practices.
- Participants reported sustained benefits over time from the faculty development workshops.
- The workshops contributed to participants' professional growth and enhanced their role as faculty members.