Course Description

This course is a study of normal occupational, neuromuscular, motor, sensory, perceptual, cognitive, and psychosocial development from prenatal through adolescence.  It includes analysis of occupation as a facilitator and marker of human development.  An in-depth exploration of the occupational therapy practice framework, domain and process, is provided.  The lab includes observation of developmental markers and task analysis of developmentally appropriate occupations. 

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of human development from pre-natal through adolescence. B.1.1
2. Apply and analyze sociocultural, socioeconomic, diversity factors, and lifestyle choices in contemporary society to meet the needs of persons, groups, and populations. B.1.2
3. Apply, analyze, and evaluate the interaction of occupation and activity, including areas of occupation, performance skills, performance patterns, context(s) and environments, and client factors. B.3.2
4. Articulate the importance of balancing areas of occupation; the role of occupation in the promotion of health; and the prevention of disease, illness, and dysfunction for persons, groups, and populations. B.3.4
5. Demonstrate activity analysis in areas of occupation, performance skills, performance patterns, context(s) and environments, and client factors. B.3.6

6. Demonstrate sound judgment in regard to safety of self and others and adhere to safety regulations throughout the occupational therapy process as appropriate to the setting. B.3.7

7. Use skilled observation, checklists, and interview methods and compare findings to developmental norms B.4.4 

8. Demonstrate, evaluate, and utilize the principles of the teaching–learning process using educational methods for persons and groups, at the level of the audience. B.4.21 

Rational

Occupational therapists must have extensive knowledge of normal human development to assess abnormalities, identify deviations, and to predict the effects of medical and social conditions on occupational performance and role acquisition. Students must understand and appreciate the meaning and relevance of occupation to human beings and to the practice of occupational therapy. In order to effectively design and implement occupation-based intervention, students must demonstrate competence in the current occupational therapy practice framework and task analysis. 

Full Course Format

FORMAT:

Hybrid course that consists of on-line material, online lecture and face to face lab sessions. Please check your e-mail daily.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

AOTA Student Membership, assigned readings 

Timely attendance and participation in lecture and lab activities, and field-based assignments.

Successful completion of tests, quizzes, reports, presentations, and lab assignments.

Internet access and ability to use Canvas course management systems

Required Texts

Berger, K. (2020). The developing person through the lifespan (11^th ed.). New York: Worth Publishers.

Hawaii Early Learning Profile – Strands Birth to Three Years (HELP Strands, 2013). Curriculum Based Assessment (2^nd ed.). Palo Alto, CA: Vort Corporation 

Johnson-Martin, N., Hacker, B., & Attermeier, S. (2004). Carolina Curriculum for Preschoolers with Special Needs: Assessment Log. Baltimore, MD: Brooks Publisher

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2020). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process (4th ed.). American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(Suppl. 2), 7412410010. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.74S2001

See weekly modules for additional supplemental readings.

Assessment of Students

*Most assignments post automatically to the Canvas Calendar – however not all of them do. Because of this, the Weekly Overviews are supplemental and will explain in more detail what is due for the week.

Students will be assigned grades based on the grade definition identified in the Catalog.

Course Requirements & Policies

• Access Canvas for online lessons, multimedia materials, and quizzes: Students are required to read assigned material and participate in internet learning activities before class/lab.
• For any questions about accessing or using Canvas, the Learning Management System at DYC please contact E-learning services:elearningsupport@dyc.edu. Location: Montante Library, Lower Level. Hours (EST): Mon-Fri: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
• Written Assignments:Required papers must be typed in a Word document. Guidelines will be provided for written assignments. Please note that students must have Microsoft Office in order to view feedback from faculty on assignments.  In addition, tracked edits and feedback on Word documents are not able to be viewed on most smartphones and/or tablets.

1. All assignments are expected to be completed and submitted on time, with appropriate attention to grammatical structure, spelling and format (using APA format according to the 6th edition of APA manual). All assignments are to be type-written.
2. ALL assignments must be completed in order to successfully complete this course. Assignments will not be accepted after the last day of class.

• Timely Submission of Assignments: Any assignment not submitted by the required date/time and/or not submitted in the format required by the assignment directions (examples: hard copy vs submit to Canvas in readable PDF) will be graded a “0” (zero) for that assignment, unless the instructor receives prior notification of a valid excuse (i.e. serious illness, injury, family crisis).
• Professional Behavior Expectation: Students are expected to act in a professional manner at all times in preparation for their future role as a therapist. Timely attendance and active participation are expected for in class discussions, learning activities, presentations, labs, and field experiences.

1. Tardiness or unexcused absences will result in 2 percentage points deducted per absence from the final course grade for this course.
2. A student who misses more than ONE lab will lose 2 percentage points of the final grade, for each lab he/she is absent.

• Missing Exams (or other required events/assignments):

1. Any student unable to attend an examination/test/quiz (due to serious illness, injury, family crisis) must contact the instructor, prior to the exam/test/quiz, to request a make-up exam/test/quiz or the student will receive a “0” (zero) for the exam/test/quiz.
2. If a student misses an in-class requirement (e.g. presentation) or scheduled/outside-class requirement (e.g. assignment related to a field site visit, special lab), he or she will receive a “0” (zero), unless the instructor receives prior notification of a valid excuse (i.e. serious illness, injury, family crisis). A make-up requirement may be offered upon receipt of written verification of the reason for the absence.

Use of Electronic Devices

Sharing of Canvas content resources - is strictly prohibited. All instructor and classmate postings are considered private and should not be shared. The content is to be only used to meet the learning objectives of the course by enrolled students. Cell phone use during exams is prohibited. Please turn off your cell phone during class. Inappropriate use of a cell phone during lab or class is unprofessional.

Academic Integrity

D’Youville has a responsibility to promote academic honesty and integrity, and to develop procedures to deal effectively with instances of academic dishonesty.  Students are responsible for the honest completion and representation of their work, for the appropriate citation of sources, and for respecting others' academic endeavors.  By placing their name on academic work, students certify the originality of all work not otherwise identified by appropriate acknowledgments. Visit the D'Youville Catalog linked here for detailed information.

Dishonesty will not be tolerated. A student who violates this obligation in the form of plagiarism, cheating, or deception will receive a “0” (zero) for the project, homework assignment, test, or in-class assignment.  The student will also face further disciplinary actions from the program. All assignments in this class are expected to be completed independently, except when collaboration is specifically stated as part of the assignment.

Plagiarism

Students are expected to comply with the D'Youville plagiarism policy. Any student who submits an assignment that meets the criteria for plagiarism will receive a grade of zero/no credit for that assignment. Plagiarism includes papers copied directly from another source; papers which take material in part or in whole from other sources without sufficient documentation. Faculty may use computer-based software to review papers for plagiarism. Students will not be permitted to rewrite any written assignment once it has been submitted and graded. Students are encouraged to seek guidance from the faculty teaching the course when working on an assignment. In addition, the Writing Tutor and the Learning Center can help students with writing, grammatical concerns and APA format. Students who are referred by faculty to a writing tutor may be asked to bring proof of attendance before future assignments will be accepted for grading.

Withdrawal from the course

Students may withdraw from a course, at which point their record will show a grade of “W”.  Forms for withdrawal can be found on-line through the Registrar’s Office at the link here. These forms must be completed, signed by the student’s advisor, and submitted to the Registrar’s Office. Ceasing to participate in class or informing the instructor of the intention to withdraw does not constitute official withdrawal and will result in a grade of “F”.

Technology Support for All D'Youville Students and Employees

We provide support for all network, computer, printer, lab and account issues for all D'Youville students and employees. If you need help, contact us by telephone, email or create a ticket in our Help Desk system (using your DYC ID credentials).  Location: Visit us on the lower level of the Library. Phone: 716-829-8282  Email: helpdesk@dyc.edu

Hybrid or Online Course Specific Information 

All parts of this course are to be done independently by the student, unless otherwise specified. Internet access can be achieved through the computers in the D'Youville College Computer Labs or by using any computer equipped with Internet access and email. Use of the D'Youville College computers is free, though students must first obtain a user-id and password from the Computer lab office.

1. Students are expected to participate in all required online activities for each week of the course. Failure to participate in discussions or other activities will be considered an absence.
2. All students are expected to have read the week's required readings, as discussions regarding the assigned readings are crucial to the success of the class.
3. Course objectives are met by participation in classroom and lecture activities, as well as online discussion boards, and by completion of the readings, homework and other assignments for the course. All students must activate their Canvas account for this class.
4. Official email communication from the professor will be posted through Canvas. Make sure your account information is accurate and functioning smoothly. Faculty will answer email correspondence within 48 hours Monday-Friday. It is the responsibility of the student to maintain an email address that is current and accessed daily, as this will be the primary means of faculty communication with individual students.
5. There are weekly discussions, assignments, quizzes, and reflections for this course. Required readings and activities for each week are posted on Canvas. All assignments are graded.
6. This class utilizes discussion-based activities, so it is crucial that respect is maintained for different points of view. Verbal violence during discussions will not be tolerated. Harassment and discrimination of any type are also unacceptable. Nonetheless, viewpoints and questions that are controversial, thought provoking and creative are encouraged and appreciated.
7. Students are expected to monitor their own progress in the course and to seek out the professor for assistance. All grades will be posted on the Canvas Grade book.
8. Non-attendance in online courses, unless the appropriate drop/add or withdrawal forms have been processed with the registrar's office, will result in a grade "F” for the course. Financial (tuition) obligations will also remain if deadlines for withdrawal have not been met. Merely informing the faculty teaching the course and/or non-attendance is not sufficient to cancel registration in the course.

Online Learner Requirements and Proficiencies

You are required to be able to navigate the course by clicking links on the site.

Students need to be able to write assignments, copy and paste, create documents using Microsoft Office and be able to upload to Turnitin.com, email attachments and the ability to upload to the LMS. If you are not able to do so, please contact me before an assignment is due.

Students must be able to work as instructed to ensure you are properly prepared you should have Self-discipline, Problem solving skills, Critical Thinking skills and enjoy communicating in the written world.

Discussions – you are required to participate in discussions. You will need to do any initial post and follow-up posts. Please refer to the discussion board rubric for time and grading criteria.