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Life-Design for Career Counseling
Full text linkStudents in a career counseling course were provided Savickas’ “Life Design Counseling Manual” (2015) to implement a career counseling practice. Students completed a career construction interview, wrote a life portrait on one another, then read the life portrait to their partner. Students reported high interest and learning objectives were met
Addressing Fine Motor Skills in Kindergarten through Embedding Occupational Fine Motor Skills in Classrooms
No full textBackground: Fine motor and visual–motor delays are becoming more common among young children, driven by the shift from traditional physical play to screen time and worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. These issues are particularly concerning for kindergarten students, whose academic demands for handwriting and classroom participation are increasing despite their limited prior school experience.
Purpose: This Capstone project aimed to evaluate the effects of an occupational therapist-led training workshop for kindergarten teachers, focusing on how it helps integrate fine motor activities into daily bellwork routines. The main research question was whether this Tier 1, classroom-based strategy could enhance students’ fine motor and visual–motor skills while reducing reliance on traditional one-on-one occupational therapy.
Theoretical Framework. The primary theoretical framework in this Capstone was the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO), as it emphasizes habituation, performance capacity, and participation in meaningful, routine classroom activities. Additionally, the Diffusion Theory of Innovations guided the implementation of the project within a larger system, in this case, a school district.
Methods. A two-hour workshop was designed and conducted for kindergarten teachers, offering evidence-based strategies and resources for integrating daily fine motor activities into bellwork. One teacher implemented the program by cycling through skill areas, with some flexibility in how it was incorporated into academics. One additional teacher who conducted traditional bellwork served as a control. Data collection included the Beery-Visual-Motor Integration (Beery VMI) and an observation assessment of fine motor skills, both completed with continued support from an occupational therapy practitioner.
Results. Students in the experimental classroom demonstrated significant improvement in Beery VMI standard scores compared to the control group, accompanied by functional gains in grasp maturity and forearm positioning. Although some measures, such as name legibility, did not reach statistical significance, the patterns consistently favored the intervention group.
Conclusions. Embedding fine motor activities into a daily classroom routine is a practical, occupation-based method for strengthening kindergarten students’ foundational skills in handwriting and classroom participation. This approach also emphasizes the role of occupational therapy in Tier 1 prevention and collaborative teacher training
Transforming Online Courses: Practical Strategies for Educators
No full textIn this article, we examine strategies for enhancing student engagement in online higher education courses through targeted course restructuring. Given the increased demand for high-quality online learning, it is essential for institutions to adopt a proactive, student-focused approach to course design and delivery. The paper highlights research underscoring the critical connection between active student participation in online courses and improved academic performance. It emphasizes the fundamental need for strategic organization and consistent course design to foster engagement and optimize student learning. Our research explores the value of soliciting and implementing student feedback through multiple mechanisms, including pre-term and midterm surveys, anonymous discussion boards, and frequent instructor check-ins, to continuously adapt and refine instructional practices. We propose that intentionally involving students as co-creators enhances the learning experience by carefully aligning courses with learner expectations and needs, which contributes to a supportive learning community. This paper contributes to the growing literature on effective online instruction by offering concrete ideas for enhancing student connection, learning, and satisfaction. By sharing practical examples and proven best practices for course redesign, we provide instructors with a framework to create dynamic, collaborative, and engaging online learning environments
Kentucky Comfort Care: Understanding and Awareness of Palliative and Hospice Care in Kentucky Adults
No full textKentucky has an overwhelming need for both palliative and hospice care services because of the high percentage of individuals who struggle with chronic or life-threatening conditions. Studies have shown that access to palliative and hospice care may be inhibited by the knowledge patients have of these services. The purpose of this study was to examine the awareness and understanding Kentuckians have of palliative and hospice care and to determine the factors influencing them. A 22-question survey was administered to collect information about Kentuckians understanding of available palliative and hospice care services and common vocabulary used by providers in these settings. Respondents’ age ranges from 19-63 years old. Respondents most frequently had “Some college” as their highest education attainment, and half has experience working/studying in the medical field. Most of the respondents selected “no knowledge” as their awareness of palliative care and most selected “some knowledge as their awareness of hospice care. More respondents were able to provide a definition of hospice care than palliative care when asked (96.6% and 53.8% respectively). Overall, Kentucky adults in this study showed a lack of awareness and understanding of palliative and hospice care services. This study highlights the overwhelming need for available educational resources for those who are experiencing either type of health care services
Evaluating Advanced Aerial Firefighting Technologies for Effective Implementation in Central Appalachia
No full textThis thesis evaluates emerging aerial firefighting technologies, including training systems, aircraft-based sensing and surveillance systems, and unmanned aerial systems for effective implementation in Central Appalachia, and even more specifically, Eastern Kentucky. Due to the lack of municipal and state-owned manned aerial firefighting (suppression) aircraft, it was concluded that UAS and Multi-mission-capable sensing aircraft were the most practical for implementation. Two different proposals for the implementation of these technologies are made: One for the implementation of sensing and surveillance equipment on state-owned aircraft, and one recommends the widespread implementation of UAS for state and municipal fire protection agencies. By conducting a state-wide survey in Kentucky, trends were collected regarding the use of UAS amongst fire protection agencies. Results currently suggest that the UAS infrastructure is fresh but growing, well supported, and the technology is highly applicable to the region
Work Readiness among Occupational Therapy Students in the USA: Associations with Approaches to Studying
No full textPrevious studies have looked at the association between study approaches and student grades with a focus on deep, strategic, and surface learning. This study used a cross-sectional design to examine the association between study approaches and students’ feelings of readiness to practice. Thirty-five students in master’s and clinical doctoral programs completed the Work Readiness Scale and the short 18-item version of the Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students (ASSIST). Using a linear regression analysis, higher scores on the strategic study approach (β=0.38, p\u3c0.05) and lower scores on the surface study approach (β=-0.44, p\u3c0.05) were associated with higher scores on the Work Readiness Scale. Studying harder (i.e. spending more hours studying) was not related to feeling ready to practice. Rather, studying wisely, meaning using a strategic approach to studying and avoiding using a surface approach, was associated with students’ increased feeling of readiness to practice
How Identities Shape Belonging in Occupational Therapy Education: A Phenomenological Exploration of Student Belonging
No full textBelonging is defined in a variety of ways but most often refers to an individual’s feelings of acceptance, inclusion, support, and respect within a certain environment. Belonging is an innate human need and contributes to success in academic and professional settings. Within occupational therapy (OT) education, minimal attention has been paid to the specific concept of belonging with no research focused on long-term qualitative explorations of student belonging for students with historically minoritized identities (HMIs). Thus, the goal of the present study was to better understand how students with multiple HMIs experienced the phenomenon of belonging in OT education. Utilizing hermeneutic phenomenology, this study synthesized data from course assignments, focus groups, interviews, and reflective journals from a single cohort of OT students for one calendar year. Theoretical frameworks from sociology and psychology were leveraged to understand how students, particularly those with HMIs, navigated and experienced belonging. Evidence indicates that holding multiple minoritized identities can amplify experiences of discrimination and impact how belonging is perceived. Thus an additional framework of intersectionality highlights the need for inclusive educational practices that are sensitive to diverse student experiences. Data from this study is presented in a series of student vignettes each demonstrating a unique experience of belonging for multiple intersecting identities. The findings underscore the importance of inclusive practices, supportive faculty, and peer connections in fostering a sense of belonging. This research contributes to the broader discourse on educational inclusion by highlighting the intricate interplay of identity, environment, and institutional culture in shaping students\u27 experiences of belonging
Designing an Effective Online Study Abroad Program: Effects on Intercultural Communication, Sensitivity, and Professional Identity Development
No full textResearch highlights the importance of cultural competence in occupational therapy (OT) education and practice, as emphasized by both student and practitioner perspectives. Previous studies in nursing and occupational therapy posit that short-term study abroad programs, supported by adequate faculty guidance, can significantly improve cultural competency. Within the OT context, this study aims to describe the development of an online faculty-led study abroad course and examine its effects on intercultural communication, intercultural sensitivity, and professional identity among OT students. The paper also provides a detailed course description, outcome assessments aligned with the course learning objectives, a discussion of challenges and opportunities, and the implications for OT education. This study employed a pretest-posttest study design, utilizing three standardized surveys: the Intercultural Communication Competence Scale, the Intercultural Sensitivity Scale, and the Macleod Clark Professional Identity Scale. These surveys were administered to 98 students before and after the faculty-led study abroad course; 43 students completed the pre-test, and 26 completed the post-test. The results showed significant improvement in intercultural sensitivity (p = 0.01) and a significant correlation between intercultural communication and professional identity (r = 0.389, p = 0.049). These findings suggested that online abroad programs may support intercultural and professional development for OT students who are unable to travel abroad due to various reasons, such as undocumented status or pandemic-related restrictions
Effective Implementation of eBook Guide Supports Student Success in Occupational Therapy Anatomy Education
No full textEBooks have been proven to be a successful supplemental resource in cadaveric anatomy laboratory sessions. However, the implementation of the eBook and its impact on student performance, especially in occupational therapy (OT) anatomy laboratory sessions, has not been well documented. This study shows that providing students with an eBook guide enhances student learning and increases eBook usage. For lab sessions, an eBook guide directed students to eBook specific figures and text that related to that session’s material. In alignment with the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework, providing eBooks as well as a guide gave students multiple avenues to learn human anatomy. Laboratory sessions were split between days, with access or no access to an eBook guide to determine which learning environment better supported student learning in lab sessions. Student performance was assessed with laboratory quizzes following each session. EBook usage was also collected across three learning environments: a) when eBook guides were provided during a lab session, b) when eBook guides were not provided during a lab session, and c) outside of the in-person lab sessions. Students\u27 performance and eBook usage increased with access to an eBook guide. It was determined that eBooks can increase student performance and are a supplemental tool to learn anatomy, consistent with the UDL framework, but only when students were provided with specific instructions on how to use the eBook. This suggests that effective implementation of technology into an OT anatomy lab requires explicit guidance on how students use the technology to support student success
Geopolitical Shifts in Scandinavia: Analyzing the Diplomatic Trajectories of Sweden and Finland
No full textThe geopolitical landscape of Scandinavia has witnessed significant transformations over the past century, bringing nations like Sweden and Finland to the forefront of international relations discourse. This poster board examines the evolving diplomatic strategies of these countries in response to contemporary geopolitical challenges, including the assertiveness of Russia, the rise of global powers, and the implications of countries ambitions. The research traces their historical foreign policy trajectories, examines the effects of their NATO integration, and assesses the broader implications for regional and global affair