engleski

Mentors demonstrate love for the profession’: Perspectives on being a fieldwork mentor

Fieldwork mentors are professionals who navigate the delicate balance between everyday work duties and mentoring students. Achieving a balance between meeting the needs of employer, clients, students and university requires skills that are not typically acquired during formal education. To date, the perspectives of fieldwork mentors in managing these multiple roles have rarely been examined. As such, this study examined this question with fifteen fieldwork mentors of OT students in all three years of study. Initially, participants completed a Fieldwork skills questionnaire together with a self-evaluation of teaching skills, support and resources ; opportunities for growth through mentorship ; challenges faced and role satisfaction. This was followed by a focus group in which all participants further discussed perspectives and experiences as fieldwork mentors. This discussion was facilitated by questions concerning feelings and motivation related to the educator role, resources and challenges faced during mentorship and their thoughts on necessary changes. Focus group discussion yielded new ideas and ethical considerations for students and mentors, especially concerning technology use during fieldwork, need for better student engagement during fieldwork and areas of professional challenges. In addition, mentors highlighted the need for their own continued education in contemporary professional contexts and ongoing development of mentorship skills.

occupational fieldwork, mentorship experience

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