I have never been able to decide if my preference is to teach entry level students or experienced clinicians.   Fortunately, I don't have to make a choice!  Teaching through workshops, papers and other forms of presentation is an integral part of my work at UNC-CH. The content of my out-of-the-classroom teaching often parallels my in-class teaching but also includes current work and interests in curriculum development , professional development and mentoring.

In 2003, with three of my colleagues,  I started the Occupational Therapy Learning Center to provide professional development programs and services through the Division of Occupational Science.  For the past two years we've been working on an approach to continuing education and individual professional development that is based on self reflection, active engagement in learning before, during and after a formal session and building communities of practice to support individual and group learning.  We are now providing workshops and individual mentoring services.

OTLC Professional Development Workshop, February 2005

• Nielson, C. & Wakeford, L. (2007). A Creative Approach to Developing Your Professional Portfolio, 3 hour workshop, Charlotte & NW AHEC, Charlotte NC, April 4, 2007. 

2006

• Nielson, C. Wakeford, L. & Siebert C. (2006). Your Life, Your Job, Your Profession: A Contextual  Approach to Professional Development 3 hour Workshop,. AOTA Annual Conference, Charlotte,  NC, April 29, 2006.

2005

• Nielson, C. (2005). Addressing Psychiatric Needs in Occupational Therapy, 6 hour workshop, Rehab Educators, Akron, OH, November 5, 2005

• Nielson, C. Wakeford, L. & Siebert C. (2005). Your Life, Your Job, Your Profession: The Contextual Aspects of Professional Development, North Carolina Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, 4 hour Workshop, RTP, NC, October 8 , 2005.

• Nielson, (2005). “Images of Occupation:  Our Identity– Our Obligation” Keynote Address, NCOTA Annual Conference, RTP, NC, October 7, 2005

• Nielson, C. Wakeford, L. & Siebert C. (2005). Professional Identity and Development: A Personal  Approach,  Occupational Therapy Learning Center , 5 hour Workshop, Morrisville, NC, February  5, 2005.

2004

• Nielson, C. (2004). The Occupation Centered Curriculum: From Development to Reality, 1 hour paper,  International Occupational Therapy – Seminar, Naestved, Denmark, November 19, 2004

• Nielson, C. Wakeford, L. & Siebert C. (2004). Professional Identity and Development: A Personal  Approach,  NCOTA Annual Conference, 2 hour Workshop, Greensboro, NC October 2, 2004.

2003

• Nielson, C. (October 14 and November 18, 2003). Who’s Got the Time: Time Management in   Rehabilitation, 4 hour workshop, Greensboro AHEC, Greensboro, NC

• Nielson, C. (October 30, 2003). How to reframe and claim your practice in a changing environment: social, political and legal factors influencing the practice of OT in the 21st century, 6 hour workshop, MAHEC, Asheville, NC

2002

• Nielson, C. (2002). Visionary action: Our dreams become our future, NCOTA Annual Conference, Key note Address, Greensboro, NC September 20, 2002.

• Nielson, C., Bell, C., & Coppola, S. (2002) Gathering an occupational profile, NCOTA Annual Conference 2 hour workshop. Greensboro, NC, September 20, 2002.

2001

• Nielson, C. (2001). OT’s as graduate educators: The role, the identity and the techniques, 90 minute workshop, AOTA Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA, April 19, 2001.

2000

• Nielson, C., Coppola, S. Rourk, J., Womack, J., Wood, W. (2000). Connecting occupational science to OT: Education Designed to Promote health & well being in the 21^st century, 2 hour workshop, North Carolina Occupational Therapy Association annual conference, Greensboro, NC, September 22, 2000

• Nielson, C. & Womack, J. (2000). Introduction to the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, 2 hour workshop, North Carolina Occupational Therapy Association annual conference, Greensboro, NC, September 22, 2000.