Teaching Occupation Using Subject-Centered Approaches with an Evidence Informed Instructional Design Model

Sheama Krishnagiri, Private PracticeFollow
Pollie Price, University of UtahFollow
Steven D. Taff, Washington University School of Medicine in St. LouisFollow

Document Type (Journals)

Educational Innovations

Abstract

Teaching and learning the core subject of occupation is of singular importance in occupational therapy professional programs. Occupation is a threshold concept for occupational therapy and presents challenges for students to learn about it effectively. This paper presents an innovative instructional approach to teaching this concept accompanied by an example. The proposed instructional approach uses a unique combination of ideas that tie together the Subject-Centered Integrated Learning Model for Occupational Therapy education, the principles of occupation-centered education, threshold concepts and transformative learning, all framed within the 5E Instructional Model. This approach to designing instruction offers a structured way to address previously identified challenges to teaching occupation.

Biography

Sheama Krishnagiri, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA retired as an Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy. Her scholarly interests include teaching and learning of occupation, and describing the domain of social and leisure occupations.

Pollie Price, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA is Associate Professor Emeritus, University of Utah Department of Occupational and Recreational Therapies. Dr. Price conducts research on teaching and learning the concept of occupation and occupation-based practice.

Steven D. Taff, PhD, OTR/L, FNAP, FAOTA is Professor of Occupational Therapy and Medicine and Director of the Teaching Scholars Program at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. His scholarly interests include building and evaluating inclusive learning environments, student wellbeing, teaching and learning occupation, and applied educational philosophy.

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no declarations of interest.

Recommended Citation

Krishnagiri, S., Price, P., & Taff, S. D. (2026). Teaching Occupation Using Subject-Centered Approaches with an Evidence Informed Instructional Design Model. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 10 (1). Retrieved from https://encompass.eku.edu/jote/vol10/iss1/17