The Contribution of Technology to the Development and Sustainability of an Occupational Therapy Community of Learners in Doctoral Education

This case study describes the pivotal role of technology in developing a community of practice (COP) designed for post professional occupational therapists that enabled doctoral students, alumni and faculty to share information and insights about topics, initiatives and research critical to the Occupational Therapy field. The COP evolved through ongoing development of the post-professional occupational therapy doctorate (PPOTD) program at Jefferson University in Philadelphia. The conceptual foundation for the COP moved beyond an initial focus on course delivery to an emphasis on development, implementation, and sustainability of a vibrant learning community. Transformation of the COP was greatly facilitated through the evolution of technology that supports the online and on-campus meetings of participants. The COP became a vibrant learning community through the linkage of its conceptual foundation with the affordances of available technologies