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What does AT education look like now from a student's perspective? What changes both positive and negative have come from the pandemic?
World Federation of Athletic Training and Therapy (WFATT) has put together a global group of students to share their take on on AT Education post COVID-19.
Tell us about you
Kate – should be doing her internship at the University of Pitt but is at home in Dublin
Possible masters in physio or research in AT
Madie – St. Louis University in her 5th and final year
Dream Job – D1 Sports in US
Nick Lichti – Manitoba Canada
Hockey guy preferably with a pro hockey team
Anat – Israel
Entering her final year as part of the first class of Sports Medicine in Tel Aviv
What has been challenging about the transitions associated with AT Education and COVID-19?
Anat – nobody expected it
Hard to pay attention at home
Difficult to test on different bodies without risking exposure
Taught her to be a self-learner
Learned to be more sophisticated in the way she learns
Maddie – Went home for Spring Break and was not prepared for learning home
Wifi Issues
Learned the back over zoom
Had to get help from her family for her practical skills
Studying at home with 5 other people in the house
Kate – Gained independence learning
Looking forward to getting back to face to face.
Nick – U of W hands-on exams have been postponed without an official date for completion…
It is basically a waiting game right now
Masks at your placements make communication harder. It hides expressions.
Gloves for all assessments can make it harder to palpate an area.
Lost a lot of jobs and volunteer opportunities due to COVID – very frustrating.
What do the leaders in AT education need to know from YOU?
Maddie –
- Every expectation and experience…throw it ou the window.
- Seek feedback from students
- Revisit a lot of topics
- Be flexible
- Take your time with students
- Students need to extend grace as well
Kate –
- They know we need practical experience and are patient.
- Keep in mind each student will adat differently
Anat –
- Do not be so hard on yourself
- Academics in general should take advantage of this opportunity to improve teaching and learning skills both in-person and virtual.
Nick –
- Professors have been role models during this time.
- Been available for questions and transparent
“We are still very eager to learn, even virtually”
– Nick Lichti
- Try to replicate the structure of a typical AT class into the virtual format.
- Do demos over zoom rather than just talking over lecture slides
How have you seen a change in roles in AT in your area?
Kate: AT is still unheard of and fighting for a place at the table in Ireland
Athletic Therapists are still treated as personal trainers
Anxiety drove Kate to contact her local club teams where she was able to learn a lot more during the pandemic by putting herself out there than she did in college.
“It is kinda a blessing in disguise”
Maddie – a new appreciation for AT, I learned more of the administrative side. In college, we focus so much on the clinical skills
Worked with the preceptor being in the meetings and advocating for the students
Worked as a screener for COVID
Loved seeing how her preceptor advocated for the overall health.
Grew in understanding
Nick – “I watched some ATs step-up and volunteer on the front lines.”
Continued working with the hockey team as part of the screening team.
More spare time – allowed Nick to look into other areas of improving himself and his AT education. He is currently studying for the CSCS exam.
You also begin to appreciate in person classes and exams.
Anat – Sports Therapy is not acknowledged by the Minister of Health so we are still limited.
Worked with some COVID related patients as well
Contact Us
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Athletic Dry Needling – Save up to $100 when registering through our link.
Frio Hydration – Superior Hydration products.
Donate and get some swag (like Patreon but for the school)
HOIST – No matter your reason for dehydration DRINK HOIST
MedBridge Education – Use “TheSMB” to save some money, be entered in a drawing for a second year free, and support the podcast.
Marc Pro – Use “THESMB” to recover better.
Athletic Dry Needling – Save up to $100 when registering through our link.
