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BackgroundWorld Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) member organisations comprise 77 national occupational therapy organisations across the world. Each national organisation interacts with its members and the public using diverse methods. Increasingly, national organisations are broadening their communication methods.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to examine if and how occupational therapy organisations are using social media for communication, and if so, the types of concerns or barriers they experience and what role they anticipate social media might play in the near future.MethodsAn online survey was developed; 57 of 77 WFOT member organisations responded.FindingsThis study identified that WFOT national organisations are using social media, to varying degrees, with or without an individual formally assigned to manage social media. Respondents reported that they used social media to: communicate with members, promote the organisation and promote the profession. Commonly expressed needs included assistance with guidelines for ethical social media use, developing technical expertise, and recognition of limits of time and competing priorities. Recommendations arising from this research are at the global, national, local and individual levels and incorporate active dissemination and pure diffusion approaches. Taking steps to increase the use of social media could indirectly impact occupational therapy practice through enhancing organisations’ abilities to support practitioners to enhance their practice.Limitations and recommendations for further researchAlthough 57% of WFOT member organisations returned usable responses, there may be some additional perspectives that were not captured. It would be helpful to contact non-responding organisations to explore their social media use and plans. Further research could examine how future initiatives put in place by WFOT impact social media use by member organisations.

Curriculum design is a complex task. One tool used in the design process is curriculum mapping. A mandated transition from a quarter to a semester academic calendar, alongside preparation of accreditation self-study materials, provided an opportunity for faculty teaching in an entry-level occupational therapy program to review the underlying basis of the curriculum. Two taxonomies of learning (Bloom's cognitive domain and Fink's taxonomy of significant learning experiences) were used to examine existing courses and to consider how learning outcomes and experiences varied over the sequence of courses in the curriculum. This led to the creation of a series of course maps that have been useful in informing current curriculum design and guiding future work. In this article, the authors describe the context under which this review took place, briefly review the pertinent literature relating to curriculum design and mapping in occupational therapy education, discuss the mapping process, and provide examples of course maps. The authors reflect on the process and plans for using what was learned in future curricular design projects.

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Date Presented 3/30/2017 This study used a mixed-methods survey to explore World Federation of Occupational Therapists member organizations’ use of social media. It found that although social media tools are well utilized by many organizations, enhancement of technical skills and resources would be beneficial. Primary Author and Speaker: Anita Hamilton Additional Authors and Speakers: Susan Burwash, Karen Jacobs, Merrolee Penman Contributing Authors: Angela Hook, Sarah Bodell, Ritchard Ledgerd, Marilyn Pattison

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Date Presented 3/31/2017 Stigma affects people with mental illness, limiting access to services and contributing to poor health and well-being. It influences practitioner choices. Occupational therapy practitioners should be part of the solution to stigma. This research suggests that a contact-based intervention could change student attitudes. Primary Author and Speaker: Susan Burwash Additional Authors and Speakers: Diane Norell

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