Professional Issues I
In Professional Issues I (OTA 1210) we studied professional behaviors appropriate for placement in fieldwork sites. We learned: successful work skills, how to advocate for the OT profession, creative planning, and client-centered practice in the community.
This course was designed for students to develop professional behaviors relating to time management, organization, responsibility and becoming civically involved in the community and the professional associations of Occupational Therapy. We explored cultural differences that related to interacting with patients and other Occupational Therapy Practitioners. We learned goal setting and writing skills through the assignments. We developed professional presenting/in-service skills needed in the workforce. There was an emphasis on written and verbal professional communication.
This course was designed for students to develop professional behaviors relating to time management, organization, responsibility and becoming civically involved in the community and the professional associations of Occupational Therapy. We explored cultural differences that related to interacting with patients and other Occupational Therapy Practitioners. We learned goal setting and writing skills through the assignments. We developed professional presenting/in-service skills needed in the workforce. There was an emphasis on written and verbal professional communication.
Service Learning Project
The Service Learning Project for this class was to participate in a community project to expand the knowledge of OT in the community. We got into pairs, chose a local high school, and presented to the students about Occupational Therapy. For this project we had to create a PowerPoint and give out a handout (I have posted the files to these below). We had to write an plan of what we would do during the presentation beforehand, and afterwards wrote a reflection on what we learned from this experience (these two documents are also below).
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Action Plan
Group member’s names: Lori Murdock & Tricia Kamp
School: Herriman High School
Teacher Contact Info: Joanne Robinson
Personal Email: [email protected]
School Phone: 801-567-8530
Date of Presentation: March 10
Activities we will perform:
School: Herriman High School
Teacher Contact Info: Joanne Robinson
Personal Email: [email protected]
School Phone: 801-567-8530
Date of Presentation: March 10
Activities we will perform:
- Present PowerPoint and give students handout (10-15 min)
- Give each student a diagnosis and tools to act it out for first activity
- Cookie Decorating Activity
- Tools needed:
- U-Cuffs
- Splints
- Vision goggles
- Gait belts
- Cookie supplies
- Tools needed:
- Cookie Decorating Activity
- Introduce Adaptive products
- Relay Race (in hallway, commons area, or outside):
- Put sock on with sock aid
- Maneuver wheelchair and walker around cones
- Scooter Board from point A to B
- Grab bean bags with a reacher
Reflection
On Thursday, March 10, Tricia Kamp and I went to Herriman High School located at 11917 S 6000 W, Herriman, UT 84096 to present on Occupational Therapy. We got approval from Joanne Robinson to speak to her class of thirty-eight students. The length of our presentation was an hour and twenty minutes.
We began the class by handing out flyers informing the students about Occupational Therapy. We then showed them our PowerPoint, explaining each slide and involving the students by asking questions. I feel like the presentation part of the class went really well because we kept it short, sweet, and simple so we could keep the high schoolers’ attention. We taught them what OT is and what it’s like in the program. We explained fast-track so that if they were interested they could get into the program right out of high school.
Next, we conducted a few activities. For our first activity, we handed each student a slip of paper that listed a disability/deficit. Some of the disabilities we assigned were: visual deficit (they would use different types of vision goggles), no use of dominant arm (their arm would be strapped to their side with a gait belt), no hand/grip strength (they would need a U-cuff), and total blindness (they would be blindfolded). We told them that they would have to figure out a way to frost and decorate a cookie with their assigned disability. The purpose of this activity was to help the students relate to those with disabilities and understand how difficult even simple tasks can be for them.
For our next activity, we divided the class into four groups and set up a few relay races outside for them. We had the groups compete against each other in relays such as: putting on a sock with the sock aid, scootering from one point to the next, maneuvering a wheelchair around cones, and picking up bean bags with a reacher. The games went really well and made the class time fun and memorable. This activity introduced the students to different adaptive tools and equipment that OT’s use.
Before this presentation, I had the pre-conceived notion that no one would be interested in what we had to say. Thankfully though, the students participated really well and thanked us after class. I was really impressed by their sincerity and I hope that our presentation might have had an impact on them. I believe our presentation broadened their view and understanding of Occupational Therapy.
This experience will help me in my future practice because it shows me that people are interested in what OT has to offer. It gives me hope that as more come to understand our profession we will gain more credibility. I learned that by sharing what we do, we can make a difference in how our field evolves in the future.
We began the class by handing out flyers informing the students about Occupational Therapy. We then showed them our PowerPoint, explaining each slide and involving the students by asking questions. I feel like the presentation part of the class went really well because we kept it short, sweet, and simple so we could keep the high schoolers’ attention. We taught them what OT is and what it’s like in the program. We explained fast-track so that if they were interested they could get into the program right out of high school.
Next, we conducted a few activities. For our first activity, we handed each student a slip of paper that listed a disability/deficit. Some of the disabilities we assigned were: visual deficit (they would use different types of vision goggles), no use of dominant arm (their arm would be strapped to their side with a gait belt), no hand/grip strength (they would need a U-cuff), and total blindness (they would be blindfolded). We told them that they would have to figure out a way to frost and decorate a cookie with their assigned disability. The purpose of this activity was to help the students relate to those with disabilities and understand how difficult even simple tasks can be for them.
For our next activity, we divided the class into four groups and set up a few relay races outside for them. We had the groups compete against each other in relays such as: putting on a sock with the sock aid, scootering from one point to the next, maneuvering a wheelchair around cones, and picking up bean bags with a reacher. The games went really well and made the class time fun and memorable. This activity introduced the students to different adaptive tools and equipment that OT’s use.
Before this presentation, I had the pre-conceived notion that no one would be interested in what we had to say. Thankfully though, the students participated really well and thanked us after class. I was really impressed by their sincerity and I hope that our presentation might have had an impact on them. I believe our presentation broadened their view and understanding of Occupational Therapy.
This experience will help me in my future practice because it shows me that people are interested in what OT has to offer. It gives me hope that as more come to understand our profession we will gain more credibility. I learned that by sharing what we do, we can make a difference in how our field evolves in the future.