6 Rules To Keep In Mind

Practice Skills

Dec 11

1. Information:Time Ratio

The amount of information presented should be appropriate for the amount of time. Don’t try to cover too much information, especially if the goal of the experience is to teach specific handling skills. The effectiveness will be lost.

2. Prioritize

For each class session, pick 2 or 3 key topics or methods you want to teach and prioritize them. Priorities for first-year students will be different than priorities for more experienced students.

3. Select Useful Skills

Pick topics that can be immediately used. Students will retain the information better if they can apply or use the skills after training.

4. Supply Written and Visual Materials

For the most effective training, support your teaching with good written and visual aides. Make them concise and specific. List key points. Make sure the visuals are clear and easy to follow, and the images pertain directly to the points that you are teaching.

5. Participate and Practice

We all know that we learn best by “doing,” especially when learning a skill. Condense the information, make sure you have plenty of practice time, elaborate, and add more information only if time permits after practicing.

6. Give Resource Lists

Provide lists of resources for those students wanting more “in depth” information. This list may include contact information of organizations, articles for reference, and Web sites. You may want to include (as appropriate) medical/hospital libraries, equipment vendors, or specialists in the area who may be helpful.

Practice SkillsBest Practices for Teaching

Jan Davis, MS, OTR/L

Founder and president of International Clinical Educators, Jan Davis specializes in using video technology (filmed with real patients and therapists) to create innovative, state of the art educational materials for practicing clinicians as well as occupational therapy and physical therapy faculty and students.