ASOT OTD Capstone Project Student Handbook

OT 700 Fundamentals of Occupational Therapy: Meeting Society’s Occupational Needs

Course Description

Introduces basic tenets of occupational therapy and practice service delivery models. Students will describe and demonstrate understanding of the philosophical base of the profession and its importance in meeting society’s current and future occupational needs through explaining the meaning and dynamics of occupation and activity; including the interaction of areas of occupation, performance skills, performance patterns, and activity demands. Demonstration of task analysis within practice context(s), including client factors will occur and provide the basis for attaining course learning outcomes.

 This course aligns with knowledge, skills, and understanding of developing the competency for completing OT 900: Occupational Therapy Capstone through the introduction to professionalism in occupational therapy practice from the student level through expert practitioner. The role of various occupational therapy professional organizations at local, state, national, and international levels will be highlighted. Students will appreciate the uniqueness of the occupational therapy profession as outlined in the Framework (OTPF), identify emerging practice areas, as well as articulate the role of occupation in meeting society’s needs.

Clinical practice skills: Application of the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (OTPF) to assessment and intervention approaches (3, g); Group Occupation Observation (5, a, b, d); Meaningful Occupation Project/Presentation (1, 5, 6, 7, b, d, g, h); Off-site occupation analysis experience & paper (1, b, d, f); Critical reflection paper (Yoga) (1, b, d).

Research skills: Critical reflection paper (Professional Development, Practice Scholar goal) (1, d); introduction to CAP process/article appraisal (1, a, g).

Program and policy development:  Establish an appreciation for the importance of activities related to international, national, state, and local professional associations (3, d, g, h); as well as the OT Code of Ethics (3, g).

Leadership: Critical reflection paper (Professional Development, Leadership goal) (1, d, g).

Advocacy: Objective exams (3), Off-site occupation analysis (1, b, d, g); importance of activities related to international, national, state, and local professional associations (3, g).

Education: Develop an understanding of how to access resources on professional continuing education courses for occupational therapists (a, g); understand and discuss the importance of CCUs, licensure requirements, and advanced certifications (3, a, g).

Theory development: Objective exams (3), discuss the history and philosophical base for the profession (a, g).

OT 701 Application of Research Evidence in Practice

Course Description

Promoting students’ development of scholarship skills including effectively locating, understanding, critiquing, and evaluating research using this knowledge for informing occupational therapy practice are emphasized in this course. Students will articulate the importance of how scholarly research contributes to the development of knowledge as it relates to occupational therapy. This course includes a review of descriptive and inferential statistics for understanding and critiquing the validity of the research. Competence in critiquing the validity of research studies, including designs and methodologies for both quantitative and qualitative research are major learning outcomes of the course.

This course aligns with knowledge, skills, and understanding of developing the competency for completing OT 900: Occupational Therapy Capstone through developing and advancing skill in effectively locating, understanding, critiquing, and evaluating research. This process occurs through assigned reading, exploration, and utilization of Spalding University’s library resources and interactive online learning modules. Competency is assessed through quizzes, experiential learning activities, and application exercises.

Clinical practice skills: Locating research evidence to inform clinical practice via research scavenger hunt interactive module with competency assessment and library skills check-off (8, h, i); Using evidence to inform clinical practice via quantitative and qualitative research article discussion forums (1, g, h, i).

Research skills: Quantitative and Qualitative Critically Appraised Paper (CAP) assignment (1, h, i); Quantitative and qualitative research article discussion forums (1, g, h, i); Assigned reading quizzes (3, h, i), Research scavenger hunt interactive module with competency assessment and library skills check-off (8, h, i), (1, h, i); APA style quiz (3), Statistical analysis assignment (1, h, i).

Leadership: Exploration of the varied roles of the occupational therapist as a practitioner, educator, researcher, consultant, and entrepreneur via assigned reading quizzes (3, h, i) and Introduction to Capstone Interactive Module with competency assessment (8, h, i)

OT 715 Ethical Decision Making in Occupational Therapy

Course Description

Presentation of professional values, ethics, and legal issues for ethical decision making skills within occupational therapy practice is emphasized in this course. Students will demonstrate the capacity to analyze ethical issues and make decisions to resolve personal, professional, and organizational ethical conflicts including the use of informal and formal strategies within varied practice settings. Developing an ethical and competency-based professional development plan is an outcome for successful completion of the course.

This course aligns with knowledge, skills, and understanding of developing the competency for completing OT 900: Occupational Therapy Capstone through developing and advancing skill in complex ethical and moral reasoning for effective client-centered compassionate care. This process occurs through case-based problem-solving and learning outcomes designed to develop reflection in action, or “praxis.” Praxis for continual professional development, leadership, and advocacy occurs through utilizing the OT Code of Ethics, state regulations, and NBCOT Code of Conduct for moral decision-making within varied practice settings, occupational therapy education, and research.

Clinical practice skills: Ethical Dilemma Case Analysis (5, 6, f, g); Competency-based professional development plan (1, d); productivity and ethics learning activities (1, d)

Research skills: Research Ethics assignment (1, g)

Administration: AOTA OT Code of Ethics, State Regulations – Jurisprudence exam, NBCOT Code of Conduct, Fraud and Abuse, OIG materials, employee contracts

Leadership: Ethical reasoning actions within ethical dilemma case analysis (5, 6, f, g); Competency-based professional development plan (1, d)

Advocacy: Effective use of social media for advocating and promoting occupational therapy (1, g)