Brief or New: The Benefits of On-Line Learning in Occupational Therapy

Abstract

This paper discusses the benefits of incorporating an on-line program, such as Blackboard, into occupational therapy education to enhance the learning experience. An occupational therapy department at a midwestern university piloted the use of Blackboard in two classes in the spring semester of the junior year. Students (n = 16) ranging in age from 20-28 years participated in the pilot study, which lasted a period of 12 weeks. The students were given various assignments on Blackboard involving discussions, answering questions related to the lecture topic, and sharing evidence-based practice. Overall, the student perceptions of incorporating Blackboard into a traditional classroom were positive. Eighty-one percent of the students felt that Blackboard was easy to access, 75% felt that they could share thoughts and stories that they would not necessarily have shared in a classroom setting, and 81% felt that Blackboard expanded on lecture topics and relevant practice information. Data suggest that on-line learning can enHeather A. Gallew is Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy,

An International Systematic Mapping Review of Educational Approaches and Teaching Methods in Occupational Therapy

“…Primary Areas of Level of focus secondary impact focus* (Kirkpatrick hierarchy) Alsop (2007) Teaching 3,4 Beck and Barnes (2007) Teaching 3,4,5 Beer et al (2005) Learning environment 1,2,3 Bender and Randall (2005) Teaching 2,3,6 Bennett (2001) Teaching 3 Benson and Hansen (2007) Teaching 2,3,4,5 Block et al (2005) Student 1,2 Borcherding and Baldwin (2001) Student 1,2,4,6 Braveman et al (2001) Curriculum 1,3,4 Breines (2002) Curriculum 1,3 Carbonaro et al (2008) Teaching 2,3,4,5 1, 2a, 2b Carnduff (2005) Curriculum 1,5 Chapman et al (2006) Student 1,2,6 Chung 2001Teaching 2,3,5 1, 2a, 2b, 3 Ciaravino (2006) Teaching 3,5 Coolen et al 2004Student 1,2 2b Cooper and Spencer-Dawe (2006) Teaching 3 2a, 2b, 3 Cooper et al (2005) Curriculum 1,3,5,6 Cope 2001Teaching 2,3 Coppard and Dickerson 2007Curriculum Cornely et al (2001) Curriculum 1,3,4 Davys and Pope (2006) Teaching 2,3,4 Dieruf 2004Student 1,2 Donohue 2001Teaching 2,3,4,6 Emery and Kalscheur (2000) Teaching 2,3,5 Esdaile and Roth (2000) Teaching 2,3,5 Fidler (2001) Teaching 2,3,4,5 Fieldhouse (2008) Faculty 1,3,5 Foreman et al (2005) Student 1,2,4,5 Forwell et al (2001) Student 1,2,4,5 Friedland et al (2000) Curriculum 1,3,4,5 Furze et al (2008) Student 1,2,4 2a Gallew (2004) Learning environment 1,2,3,5,6 Gallew (2005) Teaching 2,3 Gifford (2001) Teaching 3 Gitlow and Flecky (2005) Teaching 2,3,4,5 Goldreich (2004) Teaching 2,3,4,5,6 …”

A study of critical reasoning in online learning: application of the Occupational Performance Process Model

“…Therefore, this assignment was designed to provide students with feedback on an individual basis, offering them guidance and support from an experienced instructor rather than a fellow novice. As online learning is increasing in use and there is evidence that it can be used to enhance educational experiences (Gallew, 2004), the assignment was designed to be completed via Blackboard Academic Suite (Blackboard, Inc. Washington DC. USA).…”