Abstract:
Students desire more hands-on learning outside the classroom. Students identified significant value in community-engaged learning opportunities to utilize skills across the occupational therapy process. The community partner felt supported by OTD students. The needs of the community partner were identified. Students and staff decided an art mural would enhance the outdoor leisure space and promote engagement among participants. The redesigned space was anticipated to increase participation outdoors and the likelihood of increased sun exposure. Sun safety posters were placed by the back door. The overall response to the finished project was overwhelmingly positive from academic faculty, program staff and participants.
Keywords:
Community-Engaged Learning, Aging, Engagement
Outcomes:
Analyze ways students benefit from community-engaged learning in the OTD curriculum.
Generate a list of how a community can benefit from community engaged learning in the OTD curriculum.
Describe how an outdoor mural can promote leisure engagement among aging adults.
Hear it from the author:
Audio Transcript:
Veyvoda & Van Cleave, (2020), noted community-engaged learning is an opportunity for students to apply previous coursework and build a positive relationship with the community. Mattila (2019) described how occupational therapy students report improved skills in collaborating and interacting with other populations following community-engaged learning experiences. Students also develop additional soft skills while interacting with community partners, such as patience and flexibility.
Drake University Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD) students collaborated with a community partner to complete a mutually beneficial project as part of a community-engaged learning experience for the Aging Adults and Community course.
This poster highlights the products of one of the projects. Students transformed an outdoor existing leisure space into an engaging environment to promote social participation and leisure opportunities based on a needs assessment completed with the community partner. The redesigned space was anticipated to increase participation outdoors and the likelihood of increased sun exposure, so sun safety posters were placed by the backdoor and students provided sun safety education to staff. The overall response to the finished project was overwhelmingly positive from program staff, participants, and academic faculty.
References:
Han, A., Radel, J., & Sabata, D. (2016). The benefits of a person-centered social program for community-dwelling people with dementia. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 70(4_Supplement_1), 7011515266p1. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2016.70S1-PO5018
Mattila, A. (2019). Perceptions and outcomes of occupational therapy students participating in community engaged learning: A mixed-methods approach. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 7(4) 111–117. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.1612
Veyvoda, M. A., & Van Cleave, T. J. (2020). Re-imagining community-engaged learning: Service-learning in communication sciences and disorders courses during and after COVID-19. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. https://doi.org/10.1044/2020_PERSP-20-00146
Yu, S., Guo, N., Zheng, C., Song, Y., & Hao, J. (2021). Investigating the association between outdoor environment and outdoor activities for seniors living in old residential communities. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(14), 7500. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18147500