Implementing Best Educational Practices and Current Research in IU OTD's Pediatrics Course

Abstract

Quality education is a vital component of teaching doctoral occupational therapy students. Indiana University’s (IU) Occupational Therapy doctoral program in occupational therapy graduated its first class of entry-level doctorate students in 2021. The program educates students on a variety of populations, interventions, and all components of occupational therapy service delivery, including a specific practice course for occupational therapy with the pediatric population: T643: OT Practice: Children and Youth (T643). For over five years, the T643 course has not undergone extensive revisions and updates to course content, research, and evidence-based instruction methods. Therefore, the purpose of this capstone project was to update, revise, and implement best educational practices for the pediatric T643 course for IU Occupational Therapy doctoral students. Preliminary surveys were administered to current T643 students and revealed decreased knowledge of and confidence in course objectives and components of pediatric occupational therapy practice. The course was updated with current research regarding pediatric assessments, interventions, and education. The course was restructured and updated with evidence-based teaching strategies throughout lectures and labs. The post-survey indicated increased knowledge and confidence among T643 students regarding course content and implementation of pediatric occupational therapy services. Students reported satisfaction with the evidence-based educational strategies and indicated the benefit of the updated course. These findings demonstrate the capstone project increased competency, confidence, and education among students in IU’s T643 course.