Current Issues: Training To Ensure Quality Practicum Supervision of Graduate Students

Abstract

Abstract Appropriate supervision and effective clinical instruction are essential to the education of future speech-language pathologists. Practicum supervisors assist graduate students with their integration of academic knowledge and clinical skills, which leads to their independent thinking and problem solving, and ultimately to their demonstration of clinical competencies. Despite this vital role, many supervisors do not have the education and training to be proficient mentors. Therefore, Camtasia Studio was used at the University of Virginia to create two short training programs (each 17 minutes in length) to support speech-language pathologists involved in supervisory roles at off-site facilities. Furthermore, survey results completed by these professionals following the initial trainings help to rationalize the need for additional trainings and more wide-spread instruction of speech-language pathologists who take on the role as clinical supervisor.