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Unit outline_

OCCP4089: Evaluation in Professional Practice

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Working as a professional requires a high degree of autonomy, a dedication to life-long learning, a capacity to work in partnership with others, and an ability to reflect on the quality of one's practice and service delivery. This unit of study emphasises the role of evaluation and outcome measurment as a component of evidence-informed occupational therapy practice. Students will learn how to evaluate the process and outcomes of services, how to select, appraise, and apply outcome measurement in a practice context when evaluating outcomes of occupational therapy services. Students will develop skills for designing and disseminating program evaluation plans to contribute to monitoring, and evaluation for practice improvement.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Participation Sciences
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
OCCP4087
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Laura Hogan, laura.hogan@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Laura Hogan, laura.hogan@sydney.edu.au
Abby Watt, abby.watt@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Small continuous assessment Discussion board post
Online assessment
10% Week 09
Due date: 17 Oct 2021 at 23:59

Closing date: 17 Oct 2021
300 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3
Small continuous assessment Discussion Board Post
Online assessment
10% Week 10
Due date: 24 Oct 2021 at 23:59

Closing date: 24 Oct 2021
300 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3
Small test Online Quiz
MCQ
25% Week 11
Due date: 28 Oct 2021 at 15:30

Closing date: 28 Oct 2021
1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Program evaluation plan
Written assessment
55% Week 13
Due date: 12 Nov 2021 at 23:59

Closing date: 12 Nov 2021
3000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6

Assessment summary

Assessment Item 1: Discussion board posts:- Discussion board posts; submission via discussion board through CANVAS. Two separate discussion boards will be created for these two posts. Students will not see the contributions of others until they have posted on the discussion board. *Assessment Item 2: Online Quiz:- Online individual multiple choice quiz on the content covered in the self directed online modules. Questions will be randomised from a question bank individually. *Assessment Item 3: Program evaluation Report:- In this assessment task students will develop a program evaluation plan for an occupational therapy intervention, program or service. The evaluation plan will be prepared in the form of a report

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 09 Self-directed online module 1: Foundations of Outcome Measurement Online class (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Self-directed online module 2: Using outcome measurement in practice Online class (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 10 Self-Directed Online Module 3: Measuing what is important Online class (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Self-directed online module 4: Case Study Online class (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 11 Flipped Classroom Activities - Preparation for Workshop 1 Independent study (2 hr) LO5 LO6
Workshop 1: Overview, Appraisal of measures, Programs and Program logic Workshop (3 hr) LO5 LO6
Flipped Classroom Activities - Preparation for Workshop 2 Independent study (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Workshop 2: Program logic, evaluation methods and measurement options Workshop (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 12 Flipped Classroom Activities - Preparation for Workshop 3 Independent study (2 hr) LO4 LO5 LO6
Workshop 3: Asking evaluative questions ; Developing data collection approaches Workshop (3 hr) LO4 LO5 LO6
Flipped Classroom Activities - Preparation for Workshop 4 Independent study (2 hr) LO4 LO5 LO6
Workshop 4: Implementing evaluations, using evaluation outcomes in practice, translating evaluation. Workshop (3 hr) LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 13 Question & Answer session for final assignment Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: This unit of study is a condensed 6 credit point unit, conducted over a five week period after completion of the professional practice block placement. An online component will be made available in weeks 9 and 10 with two discussion board posts and an online quiz forming the assessment tasks for this content. There will be four face to face workshops in weeks 11 and 12 as timetabled, each requires 2 hours of self-directed preparation. Students must attend all workshops and participate in the team based learning activities within the workshops. Both the learning activities and the learning content build from one session to the next. In week 13 there will be an opportunity for students to attend a 2 hour Question & Answer online session on the final assignment.
  • Required materials: Online education units of study have the following computer requirements; a desktop computer or laptop (not tablet), and connection to network with sufficient internet speed: at least 3 Mbps download speed and 3 Mbps upload.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Readings will be provided on the CANVAS site linked with specific online activities and workshop preparation. 

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. consolidate knowledge from previous units of study on measurement constructs and outcome measurement
  • LO2. recognise the role of individual client and program evaluation in measuring processes and outcomes
  • LO3. understand and describe the value of outcome measurement as a key component of evidence-informed OT practice
  • LO4. apply appraisal tools and guidelines to outcome measures suited to occupational therapy interventions
  • LO5. articulate the components of program logic and apply to evaluation and outcome measurement in occupational therapy programs
  • LO6. apply outcome measurement, program logic, and evidence-informed practice to an occupational therapy program in an evaluation report.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

The unit has been offered in a condensed mode in 2021 in keeping with the intention to follow the completion of the final work integrated learning placement.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.