Innovations in Education

Dr. Taff mentors students interested in Innovations in Education. This scholarly experience gives students opportunities to gain knowledge, skills and experience in education-related projects, including educational research, curriculum development, instructional design, program evaluation and scholarship of teaching and learning activities. Students should consider this experience if they are interested in developing innovations in the science of learning, fieldwork education, patient and caregiver education, professional and educational leadership, interprofessional education, public health education and establishing a foundation for a career in educational contexts. In general, personal transportation is not required.

General Description of Student Activities

Student work will use a variety approaches (qualitative, mixed methods; systematic and scoping reviews) to investigate problems and possibilities in teaching, learning and education. This includes evaluating teaching methods, interprofessional education, use of technology and media in classrooms, gauging the effect of student and faculty stress on mental health/academic performance or investigating student attributes and their influence on learning. Students will also be guided in developing educational/training needs assessments, curricular design and evaluation of educational outcomes in both student and clinical education settings. Students are expected to produce a manuscript that can be published in peer-reviewed literature, and may have the opportunity to present their research findings at local, state or national conferences.

Examples of Projects

• Occupational therapy student characteristics influencing Level II fieldwork: An exploratory study of mental health, confidence and mindful self-care
• A historical mapping review of the use of epistemology in occupational therapy education, 1917-2017
• The Rainb-OT Program: Promoting an Inclusive Campus Environment and Integrating LGBTQ+ Diversity Training into OT Curricula
• Coping Mechanisms for Combating Stress in OT Faculty
• A Cross-Sectional Study of Self-Authorship and Clinical Reasoning Skills in Occupational Therapy Students
• Improving dissemination and implementation science in occupational therapy through podcasting
• Cultural perception of disability and participation as perceived by refugees with disabilities and their family members