OTD Notes checked in with OTD student Karol Guerrero (CO 2024) who is completing her first Level II fieldwork experience, mentored by Barb Hooper, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, founding director and division chief. The purpose is to provide an academic occupational therapy experience.
When did you begin? I started my fieldwork earlier than my classmates to join instructors and first-year students during APEx 1b, which were held the second and third weeks of May.
What kind of work are you doing? A fieldwork experience in an academic setting involves assuming a full-time faculty role which generally requires collaboration with other faculty members for course development and delivery, active participation in academic research, attending meetings with faculty members, and engagement in service activities with the OTD department, for example, admissions.
What interests you about (possibly) teaching in OTD? I am fascinated by learning and human behavior and enjoy discovering how OT professionals can apply their rich understanding of occupation to enable education – a social determinant of health.
What have you learned that has been a surprise? Collaborating with faculty members at the Duke OTD program has allowed me to understand occupational therapy academics' critical role in this setting. Societal changes demand occupational therapy programs to adjust to meet the needs of populations constantly. Academics must continuously evaluate their practices and adapt course dynamics to provide innovative education for future OT practitioners. I'm also fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in some course sessions with first-year students as an observer, which deepens my understanding of classroom dynamics and provides me with a solid understanding of the learning and teaching process.
What have you enjoyed the most? I love the collaboration portion of this fieldwork. In my day-to-day at the Duke OTD, I collaborate with instructors and faculty members while receiving guidance and meaningful feedback to develop my experience as an educator.