Project Based Learning for Exhibits on Health and Wellness

Occupational Therapy Graduate Students in Second LifeISTE 2010 SIG-VE Playground Presentation

Zsuzsa Tomsen (RL: Susan Toth-Cohen, PhD, OTR/L)Bodi MacIntyre, OTS (RL: Alyssa Sariano)

Jefferson School of Health ProfessionsThomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA

Introduction and Tour: Garden of Healthy Aging

We started at the Garden of Healthy Aging, where I explained the purpose of the Healthy Aging project and the research and education model we follow. Several ISTE members visited the site while we presented to an audience in Denver. Visitors also looked at the Reducing Stress station as a sample of the exhibits at the Garden of Healthy Aging.

What is the purpose?

Provide education and immersive experience for residents of Second Life

Provide training to occupational therapy students on health communications and interactive design principles for use in virtual environments

Evaluate the utility of using virtual worlds for interactive health communication on healthy aging, for possible use as a preventive health program for adults >50 (Garden of Healthy Aging Exhibit)

Project Based Learning

Emphasizes: • teams of three or more students working on an

in-depth project 3-8 weeks;• a complex entry question to establish the need to

know about the project• Introduce activities and new information that

helps students delve more deeply into the project• Frequent feedback about multiple aspects of the

project (content, communication, teamwork, etc)

From: Pearlman, 2006, http://www.edutopia.org/new-skills-new-century

Occupational Therapy Project Structure

Paid Graduate Assistants

Infrastructure Support

Department pays for land lease of Main OT Center in Eduisland 2

Intramural research grant for Healthy Aging project (Fatima’s Cherished)

Recruitment of Graduate

students for final MS

projects

Faculty Research

drives project

Work with researcher to develop

initial concept

Brainstorm with team to refine project

(or subproject)

Review by

Content refine Expert

Revise based on feedback

ConductResearch

Get feedback from Research Participants

Revise, develop

new ideas

Project Team Members: What do they do? What do they learn?

MS Students Completing Final Projects

• Develop ideas for educating consumers on health and wellness

• Research information to be used in educational exhibit

• Participate in a team process• Develop surveys for

research participants• Conduct or participate in

interview with research participants

• Utilize peer and expert review process

• Learn to use consumer-friendly language

Graduate Student Assistants

• Develop ideas for educating consumers on health and wellness

• Research information to be used in educational exhibits

• Participate in a team process

• Utilize peer review process

• Learn to use consumer-friendly language

• Integrate “learning in school” with application to another setting.

Adapted Home and Accessible Playground

• We then teleported to Eduisland 2, so visitors could tour the Adaptation Home.

• Finally, we met up withgraduate assistant Bodi MacIntyre who discussed the Accessible Playground and the team learning process.