Undergraduate - UnitOCC4131 - Assessment of children: Methods, policy, ethics and issues

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Synopsis

This unit will provide an exploration of the issues related to the assessment of children (ethical, legal, professional, educational, clinical). The unit will start by introducing the reasons, uses, and purposes of assessment. Specific methods (e.g., observation, objective performance, parent-report) related to the assessment of children will be reviewed. Particular attention will be paid to issues related to family-centred practice and assessing children in naturalistic environments. Different contexts (e.g., clinic, community, school, home) where assessment is completed, issues related to the assessment of children at different age levels / developmental levels and the evaluation of children with special needs will be discussed. Ethical, policy and legal issues related to the assessment of children will be presented and critiqued. Specific types of assessment tools, scales, and instruments appropriate for use with children will be presented and reviewed. This will provide a broad base of knowledge and skills for occupational therapy students wishing to work with children and families in clinical, educational, home, and community settings.

Outcomes

At the completion of this unit, students will:

1. Describe the characteristics, types, and methods of assessment best suited for use with children and their families;
2. Develop and describe assessment approaches appropriate for children at different developmental levels and for children with special needs;
3. Describe the assessment approaches that best fit with naturalistic assessment and family-centred practice;
4. Demonstrate knowledge of ethical, policy, and legal issues related to the assessment of children;
5. Demonstrate knowledge of assessment tools, scales, and instruments used to evaluate the skills, interests, roles, and abilities of children;
6. Demonstrate competence in searching, describing, summarising, and presenting (verbally and in writing) the evidence from research literature on a specific topic related to child assessment.

Assessment

80% attendance requirements;
One seminar presentation 15 minutes in length worth 10%;
1000 word critique of an instrument, tool or scale worth 30%;
Participation during class and tutorial group discussions worth 10%;
3000 word essay dealing with a legal, ethical, measurement, policy or related issue worth 50%

Chief examiner(s)

Associate Professor Ted Brown

Contact hours

Four hours per week contact time (lectures and tutorials) and 8 hours per week private study (reading, literature review, practicing skills, assignments, and other self-directed learning activities).

Prerequisites

Completion of first year of an undergraduate programme