Module Directory

This module will introduce you to the core knowledge and skills of occupational therapy enabling you to develop an understanding of the occupational nature of human beings.

You will explore how people engage in their occupations and identify the influences on their performance of occupations. Students will draw on their experiences to develop an understanding of the occupational nature of human beings and the theoretical framework that underpins occupational therapy.

The aims of this module are:

• To support you to draw on knowledge from this module and others and your first placement to develop an understanding of the occupational nature of human beings.


• To encourage you to consider yourself and others as occupational beings and explore engagement in occupations, identifying influences on engagement to relate relevant theories to occupational therapy as a profession.


• To start to develop your understanding of your professional identity in relation to the core tenets of occupational therapy.

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:

1. Describe occupational therapy and explore the core skills of an Occupational Therapist.


2. Demonstrate an understanding of the meaning of occupation to identify humans as occupational beings.


3. Explore the underlying concepts of how humans engage in occupations.


4. Discuss the influences upon occupational performance across the lifespan.


5. Describe and discuss the theoretical framework that underpins the occupational therapy profession.

This module runs throughout the first year. You will draw upon the learning from other modules, as well as experiences you have gained from your first exploratory placement which occurs in the spring term, in order to develop your understanding of the occupational nature of human beings. You will consider the potential influences upon occupational engagement and performance, in order to further progress your understanding of the theoretical framework that underpins occupational therapy. Therefore, there is greater emphasis on your self-directed learning and engagement, which is supported by tutor-led and small study group activities.

Taking a developmental approach to the programme, this first occupational therapy specific module will provide opportunities for interactive, dialectical learning supported by key lectures. Within this module you will develop your understanding of the core tenets of occupational therapy. Small group work, tutorials and seminars will form the basis of the learning methods within this module. The emphasis will be to commence your development of skills in occupational therapy practice.

• Lectures: Key note lectures will focus upon core concepts.
• Independent: Drawing on your other module learning experiences, you will explore content supported
  by student-led small groups and individual study.
• Placement: Whilst this module does not include placement experience, you will draw upon experiences and learning gained on placement in order to develop your understanding of the potential impacts upon occupational performance.
• Online: Using a blended learning approach you will be expected to engage and contribute to online group activities and use of online library facilities. A module Moodle page will support your learning on this module.
• Tutorials: There will be opportunities for formative assessment tutorials however the emphasis for this module will be on developing your ability to articulate your informed thinking on specific subject areas within EBL and informal tutorial opportunities.
• Skills: Throughout this module, you will draw on and extend your current knowledge and transferable skills, in order to progress your occupational therapy identity and skills.