Assessing and preparing students for distance preceptorship placements

Preparing students for distant preceptorship placements requires knowledge of individual students through formal and informal mechanisms. Since they receive support via telephone, fax or mail, the first onus is on students to manage their preceptorship situations effectively. In order to enhance their abilities in preceptorship situations, students can be assessed for their learning and personality styles. Findings from two style assessment tools, Kolb's Learning Style Inventory and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, can be used to gain insight into students' interactions with preceptors and to assist instructors in giving the right kind of support and direction after students are placed.