Evaluations of Student Performance
Assessment of Level I Fieldwork: All Level I fieldwork courses are graded on a pass/fail basis. Criteria for grading are detailed in the individual course syllabus. Please refer to the course syllabus for specific instructions on assignments, course requirements, and the completion of designated evaluation forms. As specified in the course syllabi, students must achieve a grade of 80% or higher in Level I fieldwork to pass the fieldwork course. If a student does not meet this requirement, or the requirements of the syllabus are not met, a remediation plan will be designed by the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator to address and support the student's needs. The Institute uses Exxat for online evaluations to be completed by students and fieldwork educators for all Level I fieldwork placements.
Assessment of Level II Fieldwork: Grades are based on the AOTA Fieldwork Performance Evaluation (FWPE) passing score criteria, filled out by the student’s fieldwork educator(s), to measure students’ demonstration of entry-level competence. The AOTA Fieldwork Performance Evaluation (FWPE) for Occupational Therapy Students and other course related assignments and evaluations will be available using the Exxat platform. See course syllabus for required evaluations/assignments.
Fieldwork Performance Evaluation (FWPE) Rating Scoring Guide
4: Exemplary Performance: Demonstrates satisfactory competence in specific skills consistently; demonstrates substantial breadth and depth in understanding and/or skillful application of fundamental knowledge and skills.
3: Proficient Performance: Demonstrates satisfactory competence in specific skills; demonstrates adequate understanding and/or application of fundamental knowledge and skills.
2: Emerging Performance: Demonstrates limited competence in specific skills (inconsistencies may be evident); demonstrates limited understanding and/or application of fundamental knowledge and skills (displays some gaps and/or inaccuracies).
1: Unsatisfactory Performance: Fails to demonstrate competence in specific skills; performs in an inappropriate manner; demonstrates inadequate understanding and/or application of fundamental knowledge and skills; (demonstrates significant gaps and/or inaccuracies).
FWPE for OTS Scoring (at Final)
- All items included must be scored to receive a Pass on the FWPE
- A sum score of 111 or higher will be required to receive a Pass on the FWPE
- A score of 3 or higher on the items will all be required to receive a Pass on the FWPE:
- Item 1: Adheres to the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Code of Ethics and all federal, state, and facility regulations.
- Item 2: Adheres to safety regulations and reports/documents incidents appropriately.
- Item 3: Ensures the safety of self and others during all fieldwork related activities by anticipating potentially unsafe situations and taking steps to prevent accidents.
- Scores of 1 on any of the items is not allowed to receive a Pass on the FWPE
Midterm Fieldwork Performance Evaluations (FWPE) serve as a formative assessment of student progress and do not have formal passing requirements. However, any score of 1 on the midterm FWPE indicates unsatisfactory performance and the need for immediate review and may warrant a learning contract to address areas of concern. If a 1 is identified by the fieldwork educator, the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator (AFWC) will reach out to the fieldwork educator to clarify the concerns, determine if a learning contract is indicated, and/or provide support to ensure the student has a clear plan for improvement.
While AOTA does not have a minimum “passing” score a midterm, midterm feedback is a critical indicator of performance trends and should not be interpreted as confirmation that a student is in "good standing" for successful completion of fieldwork. The absence of failing scores does not equate to satisfactory progress, as qualitative feedback and performance patterns are also considered in evaluating a student's readiness for independent practice.
Students cannot successfully transition from OT 761 to OT 762, or from OT 762 to their Advanced Doctoral Experience, until they have met all the requirements specified in the course syllabi and their final grade has been submitted to ionline.
In all fieldwork education courses, the AFWC may make the final determination of course grade based on written and verbal performance feedback and assessment provided by fieldwork faculty and student. Factors such as the student’s demonstrated competence in key areas, ability to work independently, evidence of clinical reasoning, adherence to safety protocols, and fit within the setting may influence this decision.