2020 Transformative Learning Conference

Engaging with Transformative Learning Research

The doctoral capstone experience (DCE) is an integral part of entry-level occupational therapy (OT) clinical doctorate curricula. The DCE, a 14-week experience, affords OT students the opportunity to positively impact themselves, their profession, and their communities. Due to the increased rigor and self-regulation required for this experiential learning, students often experience an initial distinct disorienting dilemma as they transition into the role of a capstone student. As the experience progresses, they engage in reflection and exploration of the role of occupational therapy in their setting, and this results in different and expanded personal and professional world views. This study utilized qualitative analysis to ascertain the transformative impact of the DCE on entry-level occupational therapy doctoral students. The qualitative results gained from semi-structured interviews with the students and their reflective journals indicate personal and professional transformation, yet students are often still challenged to reach a higher-level critical reflection of their experience. This poster will present the methodology and share the experiences of OTD students, both in community-based and traditional clinical sites. There will also be discussion of the challenges of moving students from concrete to critical reflection. The research model is replicable by those who offer transformative capstone experiences to students in a variety of disciplines.