Successful Educational Strategies and the Pyramid of Occupational Therapy Learning

This article provides further examination of research results described in the article called: "A Study of Successful Educational Strategies in Three Entry-Level Graduate Programs." It aims to relate these study results to the literature. This report will also present an educational model, called the Pyramid of Occupational Therapy Learning, which was developed by the investigator. This pyramid is intended to be a guiding frame for graduate entry-level instruction in occupational therapy. It illustrates the importance of four areas in the education of occupational therapists. These areas are: (a) student-teacher commitment, trust, and communication, (b) medical/scientific knowledge, (c) holistic O.T. theories of human performance, and (d) application of O.T. theory to patient cases. Educators are encouraged to consider these factors when designing or refining their O.T. curricula.