Learning Together Apart: The Development of a Distance Learning Course for Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy Fieldwork Supervisors

Abstract

This article describes the development of a distance learning course for occupational therapy and physiotherapy fieldwork supervisors by the School of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy at the University of Southampton. It is based on a method of practice teacher education (the social work equivalent of fieldwork educator training) developed in the Department of Social Work Studies. The course is designed for a small teaming group of fieldwork supervisors based in the locality of its members, making it particularly useful as a distance learning approach for teaching person-related skills. The group meets at regular intervals for up to 2 years, during which time each course member supervises two different students on placement. The advantages of this concurrent training approach, where supervisors work with students at the same time as developing their own skills, are explored.