Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of a series of online, module-based instructional reusable learning objects RLOs targeted at entry-level, 1st year, Master of Occupational Therapy students.
The content of the RLOs addressed knowledge and implementation of A SECRET, a parental reasoning approach for children with a sensory processing disorder, specifically sensory over responsiveness. Nine RLOs were developed and embedded within a commonly used learning management system. Occupational therapy OT educators train entry-level OT students to identify, evaluate, and treat children with sensory processing difficulties and disorders [ 1 ].
According to both AOTA's accreditation standards and ACOTE's blueprint, entry level occupational therapists should demonstrate competency in assessing sensory needs and providing stimulation and environmental self-management strategies to those with sensory processing deficits [ 3 ]. Green et al. Based upon the literature, it is evident that a wide array of children demonstrate sensory processing disturbances and that occupational therapists incorporate sensory processing approaches to address those difficulties [ 6 β 8 ].
The type of sensory processing frame of reference e. However, teaching a clinical reasoning process e. Furthermore, other health professions have used instructional technology and distributed learning as part of their entry-level programs, including pharmacy, nursing, physician assistant, speech language pathology, and physical therapy [ 10 β 12 ]. Currently, however, there is limited information regarding the use of RLOs in occupational therapy entry-level education as mechanisms to enhance face-to-face or hybrid instruction with the exception of Gee et al.
Reusable learning objects typically are small, discrete, self-contained digital objects that may be sequenced, combined, and used within a variety of instructional activities [ 14 ] including integration into formal lectures or as stand-alone elements for remediation or background knowledge development [ 11 , 15 ]. Though RLOs within some of the health science education or professional programs [ 11 , 12 ], there is a lack of published literature documenting the implementation of RLOs into the broader rehabilitation sciences for entry-level professional education, especially in occupational therapy.
