The American Massage Therapy Association’s (AMTA) 2021 Schools Summit is an annual highlight for massage therapy educators and administrators. This year, COVID-19 meant the meeting was held virtually, which allowed hundreds of attendees to join and take part in great education.

Following are some highlights:  

Leaders in the Field

Dr. Julie Schell, assistant dean for instructional continuity and innovation in the College of Fine Arts at The University of Texas at Austin, was the keynote speaker. Schell talked to attendees about research-based tactics to help students better learn and retain information.

For Schell, tapping into how students learn is paramount in creating an educational environment that improves student outcomes. “As human beings, we start our lives as master learners. From the moment we are born, we begin learning through our senses and from our environments,” explains Schell. “Our ability to learn, ascribe meaning, and apply understanding is embedded in our DNA. However, our natural inclinations for learning through curiosity, exploration, and experimentation may fade or deaden as we age. That said, instructors can bring the inherent pleasure in learning back to the classroom.”  

Susan Salvo, co-director of the Louisiana Institute of Massage Therapy, shared how attendees could easily incorporate research into their current pathology curriculum—as well as why doing so is important. “I focus on activities that teach students how to use research to create evidence-informed sessions for their clients with pathologies,” says Salvo. “These skills are essential for graduates who plan to work in health care settings such as hospitals, sports rehab, chiropractic, or physical therapy clinics. I also discuss the underappreciated side of research, which is improving critical thinking skills, reducing bias, and promoting cultural competency.”  

Salvo also stressed the importance of helping students understand how to distinguish between research-based fact and those results that are less sturdy.

Brent Jackson, academic program manager for massage therapy at Central Carolina Technical College in South Carolina, shared his top tips for improving engagement among massage students. Some of the ideas discussed included designing effective rubrics, communicating with students and giving constructive feedback, classroom assessment techniques and how online learning and technology impact massage education. 

A panel of leading experts, including Shari Aldrich, Selene Del Valle and Mike Williams, and moderated by AMTA 2020-2021 National President Angela Barker, talked to attendees about strategies they are using in their schools. Discussions included modifications schools are making 

to their classrooms to help increase student performance, curriculum design tips, and best practices for accommodating different learning styles, and effectively communicating with faculty and students. Massage educators and administrators also heard strategies to help maintain enrollment benchmarks. “As a massage educator, my goals are to inspire and mentor students and to facilitate mastery of entry level education,” says Aldrich. “I am cognizant that most of my students in massage school have multiple roles: parent, job, caregiver, as well as a student. They tend to bring vast experience to the classroom and have a readiness to learn. They likely hold a high degree of internal motivation. Knowing this, I can create rich learning environments for different learning styles. I’ve created a Massage Therapy Instructor training program that focuses on learning styles so that my instructors are prepared to meet students in how they best learn.”

Sessions from the AMTA 2021 Schools Summit will also be available online for CE credit.  

For more information, visit AMTA's website.

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