Level I Experiences

People in a circle raising hands

The goal of the Level I experience is to provide opportunities for student to apply theory to practice, understand needs of clients, and to provide an introduction to Level II fieldwork expectations and skill sets. 

Students will participate in Level I experiences either alone, in pairs, or in small groups for a minimum of 16-20 hours per course. The models used are a combination of "faculty practice, faculty led site visits, supervision by a fieldwork educator in a practice environment". (ACOTE-draft December 2017, p. 44)

Students are placed in settings in the local area, including MetroWest, North Shore, South Shore, and Cape Cod vicinities, as well as Rhode Island and New Hampshire. When applicable, occupational therapy practice course Level I experiences may utilize a Same Site Model (Evenson, Barnes, and Cohn, AJOT 2002) wherein students are placed for Level I experience at their future Level II fieldwork site.

Tufts Level I Professional Development Monitor (PDM) is the form used by Level I supervisors/fieldwork educators to document student performance on Level I fieldwork experiences.