OTA 101 Syllabus

Course Description: 

This course introduces, defines, and explores occupation as it is used to provide the foundation for the study of occupational therapy. It further provides an overview of the history and development of the occupational therapy profession, and the dimensions of past and present-day practice.

Textbook Information:  

Wagenfeld, Amy: “Foundations of Theory and Practice for the Occupational Therapy Assistant”, Wolters Kluwer 2016

AOTA press: "Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process, 3rd Edition", AOTA press, 2014

Reed, Kathlyn L: “Quick Reference to Occupational Therapy” Third Edition, Aspen Publication, 2013

Online Articles to be provided as semester progresses.

Additional Course Information: 

This is a college level course. Many students expect that an online course will be easier, or entail less time. This is not true. This online class will take just as much time as a traditional classroom course. College credits are based on the Carnegie Unit, the structure of the US Education system, for a system of “units”. One semester unit represents one lecture hour of required classroom time and two hours of student preparation time. Thus, our three unit course requires, 3 lecture hours and 6 hours of student preparation, or approximately 9 hours total, per week that you will need to spend on this course.

Students are responsible for all lecture content, assigned readings, weekly discussion board posts and objectives from course modules.

Students are expected to participate in weekly discussion board topics by posting a comment to the instructor's questions or commenting on at least one other student's response. Online participation is graded weekly. Discussion board topics will be labeled with dates for participation.

Course content and materials will be added in modules (1-5).

Course Learning Objectives: 

Through reading, online instruction, online discussion and activities the student will be able to:

1. Describe the components of occupation as the term is used in occupational therapy.
2. Relate significant events in the history of the occupational therapy profession.
3. Identify practice settings of occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants.
4. Identify the tasks of occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants to include assessment and intervention through the life-span.
5. Identify commonly used models to guide practice in occupational therapy.
6. Identify the separate and collaborative roles of the occupational therapist and the occupational therapy assistant.
7. Identify and relate the roles and tasks of other health care professionals.
8. Identify appropriate application of prevention and wellness models in occupational therapy.
9. Develop observation skills to identify appropriate concerns for occupational therapy intervention.

Student Learning Objectives: 

With a minimum of 75% accuracy, students will be able to:

• Identify and articulate significant events in history that influenced or continue to influence occupational therapy as a profession.
• Identify and apply concepts from the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework as it relates to occupation.
• Apply commonly used theories and/or frames of reference for case studies related to the occupational therapy plan, treatment and outcomes.
• Articulate the roles and responsibilities of the OT/COTA as part of a treatment team of health care professionals.

Grading Criteria:

Grading will be based on scheduled quizzes, unscheduled “pop” quizzes, written assignments, online participation and one final examination. Your final grade is weighted according to each category below:

         Scheduled Quizzes                            40% (4 Quizzes)

         Online activities/Participation           25% (assignments/discussion)

         Written assignments                         15% (2 brief papers)

         Final                                               20%

 

All written papers are to be delivered to the instructor on the due date by 11:59pm. A deduction of 4% will be taken from the paper for each day that the assignment is late up to 20% deduction or five days. After the five days the paper will not be accepted and the student will receive a “0”.

 

All Quizzes and Exams will take place in the testing center on campus. There will be NO make-ups given for missed quizzes. It is the student’s responsibility to know the testing center hours of operation and schedule accordingly. Please check hours at SAC Testing Center.

In the online format students take the quizzes on different days and at different times and therefore have the opportunity to discuss the quiz with classmates. Once a student takes the quiz s/he must not discuss the quiz with a student who has not taken it as this is academic dishonesty. Please refer to the college policy on academic dishonesty.

Grading Scale:    

A = 93-100%

B = 83-92%

C = 75-82%

D = 70-74%

F = below 70%

Meet Your Instructor:

Hi and Welcome to the OTA program!  My name is Shellie and I will be your instructor.  I have been an OTR for 17 years.  I LOVE being an OT!  I am a life long learner and love to hear people's life stories.  I've always been active and earned my Bachelor's Degree in Kinesiology from CSULB, where I met my husband.  I earned my Master's Degree in OT from USC and have enjoyed by career path since.  I have practiced in multiple settings including pediatrics, geriatrics, hospital based, private practice and currently, home health.  I love the flexibility of my career and find immense strength and peace when helping others.

I have been married to my best friend for 20 years.  We are raising two ever-growing teenage boys.  Our oldest is a sophomore in high school and just earned his driver's permit.  Our youngest is an 8th grader and an avid skateboarder.  We have a 4 year old puppy, Vito, that is 100 pounds of pure love. 

I love to travel, especially a good long road trip.  I've been to 33 states and 3 countries.  Most of my extended family lives out of state so we spend time traveling between Oregon, Idaho and Pennsylvania.  I have 3 beautiful nieces and 2 rowdy nephews (both red-heads) that I can't get enough time with.  We have taught our boys the joy of camping and love spending a weekend in nature.  On a rare day off you will find me in the kitchen baking (my favorite calming strategy) or outside at the beach or on the water.  I have a strong group of friends that helps me survive the ups/downs of parenting and keep me smiling through the messiness. 

I am excited to get to know you as you become professionals.  Best of luck on your path.  Don't forget to find a little joy, a little fun and a little adventure along the way.

Course Syllabus:  OTA101syllabus2017.pdf

Course Schedule:  OTA101courseschedulefall2017-1.pdf   (revised)