The three articles that I chose to analyze for this assignment all connect directly with what I think is important in the education of future Athletic Trainers.
First, the need for the first hand experience is important. This is why our students do a considerable amount of clinical observation. It is one thing to read about and injury in a text book, but it is quite another to see the injury occur, try to handle the situation in a high-pressure setting (game) and then try to effectively communicate with the athlete--which can be a task in itself.
While we can't prepare our students for every single situation, we can give them the right tools, and try to apply them in a context that is as close to real-life as possible. I don't know if this can always be done using technology. A computer cannot convey the emotion of the athlete, or the sound of the crowd, or the heat from the sun. (Monke, 2004/Zull, 2006)
I think that also the students go through Perry's (1981) stages of intellectual development as it pertains to working people in general. I feel that it is extremely important to be able to empathize with athletes as people, not as athletes. In reality sport is not that important. It may be someone's livelyhood, and it usually is a huge blow to an athlete who receives a major injury--but most of the time they will heal and eventually return to sport, and most importantly live a normal life. If you do not have the ability to emphathize with the athlete as a person--understand where they came from or who they are as a person, you encounter some major obstacles along the road to recovery.
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5 comments:
Chelsea,
I liked how your related the three articles to your life as an Athletic Trainer. You cannot understand how to diagnose an injury from a text book; you must have real life experiences. I also like how you incorporated empathy into your post. You have to be able to put yourself in their shoes to understand what they are going through. Do you find your profession hard to incorporate technology? Where do computers help you in your "work life". How have computers made your life easier as an Athletic Trainer? Or haven't they?
Hi Chelsea,
How are students taught to be able to relate to the athlete's? Do you feel it is either something they are able to do or not. Can it be taught or is the ability to relate something a person is "born" with?
Deb,
Computers have made my life easier because I have access to so much information. Not only research, but pictures and you tube videos. The other day in class I showed a video of a dislocated finger being put back into place...you can't create an injury, but the fact that people record these events is awesome, because it provides a "real life" touch to the learning experience.
Lisa,
Students learn about the basics in "sport psychology and psychology of injury and rehab" which helps the to empathize. But I think a lot of their "ability" comes from experience. I don't think there is anyway around it...wisdom is the window to knowledge.
Chelsea,
That is so cool! That makes perfect sense. I can see how the computer would be a huge benefit to your career field. My mind wasn't thinking in that direction!
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