School of Public Health - Physical Therapy DPT

Physical Therapy DPT - Doctoral Projects

AREA OF FOCUS: Education

TITLE: Foundations of Effective Teaching: A Teaching Practicum

FACULTY ADVISOR(S): Michael Majsak, PT, EdD; Basic Science Faculty

NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT CAN BE ACCOMMODATED: 3

DESCRIPTION: One of the major roles of a physical therapist is that of educator. This role typically arises in clinical practice as therapists interact with patients, family members, physical therapy students, and members of the health care team. Outside of the clinic, therapists may become active in the educational activities of district and chapters of the APTA, they may work with a variety of community groups, and they may offer courses that deal with clinical issues. In some cases physical therapists assume formal teaching roles for programs in physical therapy. Effective teaching involves knowledge and skills in many areas in addition to knowledge of a content area, such as understanding the needs of learners, setting educational goals and establishing learning objectives, designing effective educational experiences, and evaluating outcomes. The purpose of this project is to offer students a mentored teaching practicum in which can begin to develop these skills.

This project will involve students working with a faculty member to teach a component of a course that is part of the curriculum of the Program in Physical Therapy. Potential courses include:

Summer 2006:

Professional Practice I (Guest Lecturer)

Human Anatomy and Histology (Lab Assistant in Anatomy)

Fall 2006:

Neurological Approaches (Lab Assistant)

                        Introduction to Clinical Science in Physical Therapy (Lab
                        Assistant)

To prepare for the teaching component, students will first become familiar with the literature relating to education and teaching. They will then design one or more course component(s) to be taught. This will include identifying readings for course participants, designing one or more lectures and educational activities to deliver the course material, and refinement of their educational plans through mentoring from their faculty advisor. Students will teach their course component(s) and carry out an outcome assessment. The manuscript for this project will provide a literature review that presents the basis for the students’ teaching, will delineate what the student did, will discuss the outcomes of the practicum, and will use the practicum and outcomes to discuss issues relevant to teaching and education.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS: This project will require students to coordinate their own course schedules with their faculty advisor to ensure that one or more appropriate course component(s) can be used for the teaching practicum. The details of each teaching practicum will be agreed upon between the faculty advisor and the student.

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