Basic Occupational Therapy Course

Lesson 1 • Professional Standards and Ethics

Introduces the ethical code governing OT practice and regulatory credentialing requirements. Prepares students to navigate professional accountability.

Lesson 2 • Core Philosophy and Values

Examines occupation as a therapeutic medium and the value of client-centred care. Anchors all subsequent clinical reasoning in OT's philosophical base.

Lesson 3 • OT Scope and Practice Settings

Maps the breadth of OT roles across paediatric, adult, and geriatric settings. Clarifies professional boundaries relative to PT, SLP, and social work.

Lesson 1 • Occupational Performance and Engagement

Examines factors enabling or restricting occupational performance. Links person, environment, and occupation as interdependent performance variables.

Lesson 2 • Occupational Identity and Adaptation

Explores how roles and routines construct occupational identity across the lifespan. Introduces adaptation as a response to disruption.

Lesson 3 • Defining Occupation and Activity

Distinguishes occupation, activity, and task using accepted taxonomies. Establishes precise language for clinical documentation and reasoning.

Lesson 1 • Cognitive and Psychosocial Frames

Introduces cognitive rehabilitation, Allen's Cognitive Levels, and psychosocial frames. Equips students to address cognitive and mental health performance deficits.

Lesson 2 • Selecting and Integrating Frameworks

Teaches systematic reasoning for choosing and combining models in complex cases. Reinforces that no single framework addresses all client needs.

Lesson 3 • Overview of OT Practice Models

Surveys widely used models including MOHO, CMOP-E, and the Ecology of Human Performance. Clarifies how models differ from frames of reference.

Lesson 4 • Biomechanical and Rehabilitative Frames

Covers biomechanical principles applied to restoring range of motion, strength, and endurance. Connects frame selection to musculoskeletal and orthopaedic conditions.

Lesson 1 • Interpreting and Communicating Results

Guides synthesis of assessment data into actionable clinical conclusions. Covers reporting formats required across practice settings.

Lesson 2 • Observation and Non-Standardised Methods

Trains structured clinical observation and task analysis as assessment strategies. Complements standardised tools with qualitative performance data.

Lesson 3 • Evaluation Process and Occupational Profile

Outlines the OT evaluation sequence from referral to goal setting. The occupational profile is established as the foundation of client-centred assessment.

Lesson 1 • Types of Clinical Reasoning in OT

Distinguishes procedural, interactive, conditional, and narrative reasoning modes. Demonstrates how experienced therapists shift between reasoning types fluidly.

Lesson 2 • Translating Evidence to Practice

Guides integration of research findings into individualised client intervention decisions. Addresses barriers to EBP implementation in clinical settings.

Lesson 3 • Evidence-Based Practice Fundamentals

Introduces the EBP triad: best evidence, clinical expertise, and client values. Establishes a systematic process for answering clinical questions with research.

Lesson 1 • Client-Centred Goal Development

Applies collaborative goal-setting methods including GAS and COPM-based priorities. Ensures goals reflect client values rather than clinician assumptions.

Lesson 2 • Intervention Approaches and Strategies

Categorises OT intervention approaches: create, establish, maintain, modify, and prevent. Links each approach to appropriate client conditions and goals.

Lesson 3 • Short-Term and Long-Term Goal Writing

Distinguishes proximal skill-building goals from distal functional outcomes. Teaches measurable, time-bound goal language for documentation compliance.

Lesson 1 • Group Intervention Methods

Applies group dynamics theory to therapeutic group design and facilitation. Addresses group stages, leadership roles, and outcome measurement.

Lesson 2 • Environmental Modification and Assistive Technology

Trains home and workplace assessment for accessibility and safety modifications. Introduces low-tech and high-tech assistive technology solutions.

Lesson 3 • Therapeutic Exercise and Activity

Applies purposeful activity and preparatory exercise to restore motor performance. Distinguishes therapeutic activity from rote exercise in OT practice.

Lesson 4 • Activities of Daily Living Training

Covers adaptive techniques and equipment for self-care, feeding, and hygiene tasks. Grounds ADL training in functional independence and client dignity.

Lesson 1 • Supervision, Fieldwork, and Career Development

Clarifies OT and OTA supervision structures and fieldwork performance expectations. Guides students in professional development planning for entry-level practice.

Lesson 2 • OT Documentation Standards

Covers required elements of evaluations, progress notes, and discharge summaries. Emphasises accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with payer and regulatory standards.

Lesson 3 • Discharge Planning and Transition

Prepares students to plan safe, timely discharge with appropriate community linkages. Addresses caregiver training and follow-up service coordination.