WebCT in occupational therapy clinical education: implementing and evaluating a tool for peer learning and...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Therapy Education
• Digital Learning Environments
• Health Sciences Pedagogy

Background:

• Occupational therapy is expanding into new practice areas, necessitating curriculum revisions and updated educational technologies.
• Online teaching is increasingly integrated into occupational therapy educational programs.
• The study addresses the need to evaluate new educational technologies in occupational therapy fieldwork.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the learning experiences of occupational therapy students in a virtual learning environment during fieldwork.
• To assess the impact of web-based learning on student learning and achievement.
• To explore the benefits and challenges of online education in occupational therapy fieldwork.

Main Methods:

• A virtual learning environment (WebCT) was utilized for a six-week occupational therapy fieldwork placement.
• Forty-two occupational therapy students participated in the web-based learning experience.
• Student learning experiences were evaluated through online discussions and assessments.

Main Results:

• The majority of students reported enjoyment participating in the web-based learning environment.
• Online discussions revealed diverse themes reflecting various levels of student learning.
• WebCT participation positively impacted student learning, peer learning, autonomy, self-directed learning, and higher-order thinking.

Conclusions:

• Web-based learning environments like WebCT show promise in enhancing occupational therapy fieldwork education.
• Virtual learning supports student autonomy and stimulates critical thinking skills.
• Further research is needed to compare web-based learning effectiveness against traditional fieldwork education methods.