Shaping professional behaviors through a digital intentions timeline

Professionalism is an essential skill in the occupational therapy profession, and students in academic programs are expected to learn, develop, and demonstrate professional behaviors during their academic preparation and occupational therapy fieldwork (Lecours et al., 2021). At Worcester State University (WSU), developing and shaping professional behaviors is a consistent curricular theme. Historically, cohorts progressed through their academic years completing a professional behavior rating scale each semester, creating goals for the year, and providing narrative examples of their goal progression. Consequently, goals became repetitive, and students tended to lose interest and focus while tracking their progress. Faculty were looking to refresh the program by creating a stronger connection to professional behaviors required in fieldwork, redefining the focus of professional behaviors, and incorporating the use of modern technology teaching tools. Subsequently, the authors developed this pilot program and implemented it during the 2021–2022 academic year with first year and second year students. This article highlights aspects of the pilot program, including its creation, implementation, and program outcomes.