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Sharing Occupational Therapy Knowledge Through a Global Virtual Exchange
Conference presentation   Peer reviewed

Sharing Occupational Therapy Knowledge Through a Global Virtual Exchange

S Burwash and Anita L Hamilton
Research Transfer Network of Alberta (RTNA) Conference: Innovate, Influence, Integrate, 2010 (Edmonton, Canada, 21-Nov-2010–23-Nov-2010)
2010
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http://www.aihealthsolutions.ca/View
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Abstract

Clinical Sciences
Context: While occupational therapy (OT) is taught and practiced in over 50 countries, the numbers of practitioners working in many of these countries is small and resources for professional education and ongoing professional development scarce. KT initiative Following a successful workshop about online technologies at the World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT) Congress in May 2010, it became clear that there was both a need and a desire to extend the reach of OT professional knowledge transfer beyond the formal structure of conferences. Given that the WFOT Congress occurs only once every four years, a group of participants decided to create an opportunity for individuals who are unable to attend conferences so that they may share information with their global colleagues more easily and frequently. The result was the Global Virtual Exchange - a free 24-hour online conference - designed to meet those two KT concerns. This concept was already successfully occuring within an international mid-wifery group. Results of the initiative Six therapists from New Zealand, Canada, the U.K. and the U.S. met regularly online from June to October, 2010. In that time they organized the 24-hour online conference which will take place on October 27, 2010. More than two dozen speakers from seven countries will share knowledge related to OT research and practice. The Global Virtual Exchange will use Elluminate to connect speakers and participants discussing diverse topics such as using virtual worlds, transition planning for young adults with disabilities, adapted climbing equipment, theory development, disaster response, social media use after brain injury, OT in the military and the transformative potential of dance. The Global Virtual Exchange is being promoted using both traditional methods (press releases, e-mail, notices in journals) and social media such as Facebook and Twitter. Key messages/lessons learned Work lean, harness appropriate technologies, tap into people's passions, use well-connected people and multiply their eff ectiveness through social media, don't consider failure as an option, recycling is good (give conference presentations a second life), have fun.

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