Constance Williams, MSOT/S

Continuing Education Course Descriptions

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Fall 2006
 
  • OT 577C Application of Body Structure and Function for OT Practice

Students  will apply the anatomical and kinesiological principles to performance through task analysis. Students demonstrate competency by evaluating the movement-related functions and motor skills that support daily activity. Cadaver dissection laboratory experiences are integrated with the clinical laboratory experiences to enhance student learning. Students design interventions to promote fitness and to remediate physical performance deficits. Students fabricate positioning devices to promote musculoskeletal alignment.

  • OT 5761 Body Structures Supporting Daily Function:

Students engage in study of the contribution of the structure, function, and development of body systems that support daily activity. This semester emphasizes anatomical systems and neuromusculoskeletal substrates for activity, joint integrity, strength and cardiopulmonary function. Principles of kinesiology, the study of movement, and fitness are applied to daily performance.

  • OT 5833 Communication Skills for OT Mental Health Practice:

This course will foster the students' ability to communicate and work with individuals who are experiencing psychosocial issues. The students will learn evidence- based individual communication skills and group leadership skills to effectively work with these populations. Students entering this course will have a basic understanding of psychiatric disorders from prerequisite course work in psychology.

  • OT 5682 Evaluation Tools and Process for Measuring Occupational Performance

In concert, the course presents test and measurement principle and surveys selected standardized evaluations and other assessment processes that are used in occupational therapy. Students develop skills in selection, administration, and interpretation of assessment processes through case studies, laboratory experiences, and field work experiences.

  • OT 561E Fieldwork and Professional Competence I

    This is the first in a four semester series that emphasizes the growth of the student as a professional. Students will develop an electronic professional portfolio and participate in self-directed learning experiences to enhance personal growth and professional competence. An intensive one week, 40 hour, supervised fieldwork experience in a clinical or community setting allows the student to practice the skills learned in the classroom. Additionally, students will participate in an acute care hospital experience that includes lecture and fieldwork experience throughout the first two semesters.

  • OT 5022 Theory and Foundations for Occupational Therapy Practice:

    Students explore the knowledge, skills and attitudes of the professional occupational therapist through the study of occupation, one of the core concepts of the profession. The course acquaints students with the profession's history, current health issues and occupational therapy's theoretical base and practice models. Students explore the relationship between occupation, self, and health through participation in a variety of community experiences.

Spring 2007

  • OT 5451 Research and OT:  Preparing for Evidence

    Through critical reading and interpretation of professional scientific literature, students build a foundation for life-long learning and evidence-based clinical practice. Analysis of research design and threats to validity are emphasized with both qualitative and quantitative research studies. Students design a research study, and practice statistical analysis of an occupational therapy research data set.

  • OT 5162 Environment That Impact Participation in Daily Life

    This course provides an in depth understanding of the psychological, social, political, physical, and cultural elements of the environment that influence participation, well-being and quality of life. Disability, as the consequence of environmental barriers and the relationship between the person and environments as both changes across the life span will be discussed. Assessment and intervention strategies that maximize participation in daily activities will be examined in home, school, workplace, and other community settings.

  • OT 5781 Biological Basis of Daily Performance:  Neuroscience:

    Students learn how the brain and nervous system support the sensory, perceptual, cognitive, emotional and physiological capacity of individuals as they engage in the activities of daily life. Emphasis is placed on sensory processing, motor processing, cognitive performance, learning and memory, and communication.

  • OT 577D Application of Neuroscience Principles to OT:

    Taken concurrently with OT 478, students learn how to identify sensory, cognitive, perceptual, physiological and emotional performance capacities of individuals by examining these through observation, assessment and activity analysis. This laboratory course is taught through a lifespan perspective within the context of everyday life.

  • OT 5491 Innovations of Assisitve Technology to Support Participation:

    This course introduces Assistive Technology (AT) equipment to improve lives by compensating for limitations that prohibit participation. Assessment to match available AT to the client/consumer to meet personal goals within desired environmental context(s) is taught. Lectures and labs focus on the selection and fitting of AT, including: computer access and output devices, manual and powered wheelchairs and mobility devices, seating, augmentative communication systems, environmental control units, orthotics and prosthetics, functional electrical stimulation, adapted driving vehicles and recreational equipment. Ethical, legislative, funding, functional assessment and psychosocial issues are reviewed.

  • OT 561F Fieldwork and Professional Competence II:

    This is the second in a four semester series which emphasizes the growth of the student as a professional. Students will continue to build an electronic professional portfolio and participate in self-directed learning experiences to enhance personal growth and professional competence. An intensive, 40 week, fieldwork experience in a clinical or community setting allows the student to practice the skills learned in the classroom.

Summer 2007

  • OT 5223 Health Conditions:

Provides an overview of selected chronic diseases and conditions that affect individuals across the lifespan and impact occupational performance. Etiology, pathology, clinical course, prognosis and medical management of these conditions will be understood in order to promote health.

  • OT 5240 Self-Management in Chronic Health Conditions:

This course examines self-management and performance issues and intervention in relation to selected diseases and disabling conditions. Explores unique client perspectives of disease consequences on occupations and environments. A seminar critiques evidenced-based self-management interventions, from acute care to the community, for promoting health and social participation.

  • OT 5280 Occupational Therapy Interventions to Support Physiological Health:

Students will explore core concepts of OT practice related to the mind-body connection to promote fitness and well-being. Topics include kinesiology, physiology (allostasis and homeostasis), and spirituality. The focus will be on personal adaptation to disease, recovery, and ongoing life stressors. Models of assessment and intervention will be explored and applied to cases. Treatment planning, and documentation skills are emphasized. Laboratory experiences will reinforce integration of theoretical material.

  • OT 572A Applied Clinical Research I:  Productive Aging:

This begins the first in a three-semester sequence that is designed to allow the student to participate in a research experience under the supervision of a faculty mentor. This semester, the students will begin to critically read the literature in one of the four concentration areas of aging, pediatrics, participation or work. The student will be mentored in an applied clinical laboratory experience, and begin to develop a research question to pursue.

Fall 2007

  • OT 5191 Neurology:  Foundations for Neuro-Rehabilitation Practice:

This course provides an overview of selected neurological diseases or conditions that affect occupational performance across the lifespan. Through lectures given by physician faculty of the Department of Neurology, students will acquire basic knowledge of the etiology, pathology, clinical course, prognosis, and medical management of these diseases or conditions. OT and PT students work in small groups to develop an intervention plan based on a case presentation

  • OT 528B Applied Skills for Daily Living:  OT Practice I:

This laboratory course provides experiences designed to integrate information from the concurrent theory and practice course. Students explore intervention strategies and methods surrounding participation and continuity of care across ages and environments related to motor learning, cognition, physiological and psycho-social issues. Documentation skills are emphasized. Skills' training focuses on caring for self and others.

  • OT 5291 Intervention Models in OT Practice:

Divided into content modules, students explore core concepts of OT practice related to motor learning, cognition, physiological and psycho-social issues. Models of assessment and intervention are explored and applied to cases. Students have opportunities to consider practice issues associated with the management of a variety of disabilities, with an emphasis on occupation and environmental context, treatment, continuity of care, documentation and policy issues.

  • OT 5301 Problem Based Learning Tutorial:  Clinical Reasoning:

Students are engaged in a problem-based learning process that includes self-directed learning, problem solving, clinical reasoning and group process skills. Students explore practice problems, and apply specific occupational therapy evaluations and intervention techniques for persons of all ages, and disability categories. The focus is on direct clinical treatment interventions. This is a small seminar class with 8-9 students and a faculty mentor.

  • OT 561G Fieldwork and Professional Competence III:

This is the third in a four semester series which emphasizes the growth of the student as a professional. Students continue to build an electronic professional portfolio and participate in self-directed learning experiences to enhance personal growth and professional competence. An intensive, 40 hour fieldwork experience in a clinical or community setting allows the student to practice the skills learned in the classroom.

  • OT 573A Applied Clinical Research II:  Aging:

This is the second of a three part course sequence. The student will be trained in specific research methodologies, gain skills in the use of standardized measurement tools, conduct behavioral analysis, and enter data in an established data base. The data will be collected in clinical or community settings. The student will be mentored in the research process. Students will review the literature related to their research question, and articulate the methodology they will use in their research design. Students may choose from productive aging, pediatrics, work and industry, or participation concentrations.

Spring 2008

  • OT 5250 Disability and Social Policy:

This course allows the student to explore disability issues with an emphasis on the more personal aspects of living with a disability and policy issues that influence their lives including: community integration, housing, assistive technology, transportation, employment, self-care, recreation, communication and health care. Conceptual frameworks will be reviewed that are used to define, classify and provide services for people who have impairments, which can result in the lack of their participation in major life activities. Each student will examine one category of impairments to discover the etiology, prevalence, incidence, characteristic expressions of abilities, and environmental barriers to their participation in life activities. Students will be exposed to policies, legislation and programs that have an influence of the lives of people with disabilities.

  • OT 5092 Management in a Changing Practice Environment:

This course applies managment and organizational principles to occupational therapy services in current and potential practice environments, and entrepreneurioal opportunities. Through discussions with business professionals, and case studeies, this course highlights organizational, managerial, marketing, financial, regulatory, and funding influences on the development, delivery and evaluation of OT practice. Business plans are developed through case studies. Fieldtrips and interactions with managers and corporate leaders allow students the opportunity for experiential leraning.

  • OT 5331 Innovative Practice Models:

Taught in 4 modules of pediatrics, work and industry, community mental health and productive aging, this course focuses on community-based practice, program planning and participation. Students have opportunities to consider issues associated with the management of a variety of disabilities, with an emphasis on occupation and environmental context, treatment, and participation across a continuum of care that reflects different documentation needs and policy issues.

  • OT 528C Applied Skills for Daily Living:

Separated into 4 modules, students receive experiential laboratory activities designed to integrate information form the occupational therapy theory and practice course. Students explore intervention strategies and methods surrounding continuity of care across ages and environments related to pediatric, productive aging, work and industry, and community mental health. The focus is on skills training and strategies for client participation in community based practice.

  • OT 5264 Community Health and Occupational Therapy:

This course examines community health, wellness, and education practices through occupational therapy for groups, communities, and population. Practice models are explored for promoting health, occupational performance and public health across the lifespan. Students are prepared with community OT practice skills, including needs assessment and program planning and evaluation in conjunction with an actual community site or agency.

  • OT 561H Fieldwork and Professional  Competence:

The final course in this series emphasizes the growth of the student as a professional. Topics include the national and state requirements for credentialing, standards of practice, ethical behaviors and continuing competence. Students will prepare a personal marketing package, practice interviewing skills, and participate in self-directed learning experiences. An intensive, 40 hour fieldwork experience in a clinical or community setting allows the student to practice the skills learned in the classroom.

  • OT 574A Applied Clincal Research III: Productive Aging:

This is the third course in the clinical research series. Students continue to learn specific research methodologies, gain skills in the use of standardized measurement tools, conduct behavioral analysis, enter data in an established data base and conduct statistical analysis. The student learns the research process in a mentored seminar format. At the end of this course, students present their research findings to a community of student, facutly, area clinicians, and other members of the general public who attend this day-long conference of student presentations. Students may choose to study in faculty research laboratories related to productive aging, pediatrics, work and industry, or participation.