Fieldwork Educator Resources
To our current fieldwork educators, THANK YOU for everything you do! For those who are interested in becoming a fieldwork educator, read on!
General Information
The fieldwork experience is an integral and vital part of the MGA OTA student’s learning process. The hands-on experiences our OTA students receive while on fieldwork are vital to shaping the professionals they will become.
While on fieldwork, students receive multiple opportunities to apply classroom knowledge to real-life situations, which is imperative for growing and developing their abilities in the field of OT. These experiences allow them the opportunity to utilize evidence-based interventions, clinical reasoning, and professional behaviors.
Throughout the fieldwork progression, OTA students gain the skills needed to successfully, effectively, and efficiently transition from students to professional clinicians. For providing this vital learning experience for our students, fieldwork educators receive continuing education credits (CEU) which can be used towards Georgia licensure renewal and NBCOT certification renewal.
Contact Us
Contact the MGA Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Academic Fieldwork Coordinator if you are interested in becoming a fieldwork educator. If you are currently a fieldwork educator, please feel free to contact us at any time with questions or for assistance.
Lauren Gray, M.Ed., COTA/L, ROH
478.934.7477
Fieldwork Educator Workshop
To register for the next Fieldwork Educator Workshop, contact Lauren Gray, OTA Program Academic Fieldwork Coordinator, at . Participants in live events will receive one hour of continuing education from MGA (please note that out-of-state participants are responsible for contacting their state licensure board to determine if the hour will qualify for licensure renewal; the hour does qualify for NBCOT renewal).
If you are unable to join us for a live event, you can request access to a recording by contacting the AFWC. Attendees who view the recorded event will not receive continuing education credit.
Student Learning Objectives for Fieldwork Experiences
Fieldwork is a learning experience designed for students to apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired through the program in order to become entry-level practitioners. When a clinician agrees to take MGA OTA students, they are provided with a copy of the student learning objectives outlining the skills we expect students to develop proficiency in during the course of a fieldwork experience.
Please be sure to check these objectives each week during a Level II fieldwork rotation to ensure these skills are emerging and being refined. There is also a sample timeline for Level II fieldwork to assist you in ensuring a student is progressing adequately. Fieldwork educators are also welcome to develop and utilize their own fieldwork objectives and timeline with approval from the OTA Program.
Evaluation and Assessment
- Self-Assessment Tool for Fieldwork Educator Competency (2023) – Helps FWEs evaluate their strengths and areas for growth.
- Student Evaluation of the Fieldwork Experience – The standard tool for students to evaluate their fieldwork experience.
- MGA OTA Level I FW Evaluation Form – Used by FWEs to assess student performance during Level I FW experiences.
- Fieldwork Performance Evaluation (FWPE) for Level II – The primary tool for assessing student competency in Level II FW.
- FWPE Rating and Scoring Information – Detailing information on scoring procedures for the FWPE for Level II FW.
Supervision and Mentoring Guides
- Critiquing Progress - How to lead a student through assessment of their own performance and learning needs
- Weekly Conference Form for Student Reflection - This form serves as a resource for discussing progress with your fieldwork student and encourages the student to take ownership in the learning and feedback process
- Quick Tips for Intentional FW Educators
- The Supervision Continuum Over Time
Student Wellbeing Resources
- MGA OTA Program Student Wellbeing Resource Guide
- When to Reach Out for Support – FWEs are encouraged to contact the AFWC immediately if a student demonstrates significant performance declines, attendance issues, or well-being concerns.
- Recognizing Signs of Student Stress and Burnout– Guidance on identifying and addressing common student wellbeing concerns.
- Strategies for Managing Fieldwork Burnout: Fostering More Self-Awareness, Setting Clearer Objectives, and More
- Use of Formal and Informal Strategies to Manage Stress During Level II Occupational Therapy Fieldwork
- Supporting Student Mental Health
- Trauma-Informed Approaches in Fieldwork
AOTA Fieldwork Resources & Training
- AOTA Fieldwork Educators Resources
- AOTA Fieldwork Educators Certificate Workshop
- How to incorporate evidence-based practice into fieldwork education
Additional Resources
This page will be updated frequently with new information for fieldwork educators regarding supervisory skills, evidence-based practice, fieldwork educator workshops, and upcoming continuing education opportunities sponsored by the OTA Program. Be sure to check in with us regularly to take full advantage of these great resources!