Ms. Eleanor's Assistive Tech Corner

Occupational therapist with more than 22 years of experience in the pediatric sector. Lover of all things technology and I try to incorporate technology into every day living for my clients

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Assistive Technology Assessment

Thinking in Terms of Developing Skill Sets Rather Than Compensating for a Disability There are many types of assistive technology evaluations including:  mobility, seating/positioning, communication, computer access, switch-access, and aids for daily living, work-site modification, home modification, and recreational assessments.  While assistive technology should be considered in the typical…

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So Many Opinions

Photo by Julia M Cameron on Pexels.com

I happen to watch MSNBC and CNN on a daily basis. On MSNBC, I have heard reporters speak of a number of research articles about remote learning. The gist of these articles talk about the trauma of remote learning and the impact on students and families. 1. I don’t feel that students have as much stress as these researchers are saying exists because of…

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Static vs. Dynamic Rubrics

Static vs. Dynamic Rubrics

Many therapists ask, “Why don’t you add more rubrics to your book?” or “Why not publish a book of rubrics?”  There is an answer to these questions right in the book.  I will answer this here anyway.  In my humble opinion, rubrics need to be dynamic.  At some point, I will give in and do just that using probably only one frame of reference and only generalized assessment rubrics.  Is there only…

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Monitoring Goal Progress Using Rubrics in Spreadsheets and Forms

I am doing it again! September 25, 2017, at 8:00 PM! Come join us! Many have asked, ‘How do you track data using a spreadsheet?’ It is relatively easy. This webinar will explore exa…

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Many have asked, ‘How do you track data using a spreadsheet?’  It is relatively easy.  This webinar will explore exactly that!  Here is a list of the contents:

A brief overview of how to develop a rubric.

Creating that rubric in Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, and even Google Forms.

Staff, other than yourself, collecting data?

A review of each of the programs and how to chart the data that you collect.

Discussion of client engagement using spreadsheets.

Client or therapist enters data?

Client and therapist reviewing the data together.

Q&A

I really look forward to meeting all of you at the webinar.  The cost is minimal.  Follow the link below to sign up.  Once you sign up, your reservation will be sent to you. Handouts sent the day of the webinar.

Click Here to Sign Up

Monitoring Goal Progress Using Rubrics in Spreadsheets and Forms Many have asked, 'How do you track data using a spreadsheet?'  It is relatively easy.  This webinar will explore exactly that!  

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Using Rubrics to Monitor Outcomes in Occupational Therapy

Every practice setting that an occupational therapist, or any other health care provider, works in is demanding accountability and transparency. School-based practice is not immune, gone are the days of a teacher’s or therapist’s opinion. Reports are now required to be a balanced assessment of a student’s abilities, strengths and weakness including both formative and summative data. Occupational therapists need to know how to meet the demands of today’s data driven environment. As a research emergent profession, we are called upon to take data systematically. In an educational environment, occupational therapists should be aligning their data collectionmethods and documentation style with teachers. By aligning our documentation style and data collection methods, a more cohesive picture of the student emerges. This allows for more concise development of the IEP and goals targeted toward the student’s individual needs. Data collection need not be difficult. With a little preparation and smart organization planning, data collection becomes easy. When annual review time comes around, goal progress is also easy to report. This allows better planning for the coming year by the Committee on Special Education. Students also benefit by using rubrics in an occupational therapy setting. Some students cannot see or understand the “hidden curriculum.” These students need the guidelines for achievement that others may not. In using a rubric, you are defining the rules by which you consider a goal achieved. This can potentially improve goal progress and decrease the student’s anxiety about being pulled out or having a therapist in the classroom. For some students, a rubric provides the light at the end of the tunnel. With systematic data collection through the use of rubrics, occupational therapists have a unique opportunity to review and interpret the data collected from his or her students to create pilot or ex post facto studies. This can potentially lead to further research. Rubrics can be a win-win situation.

  Topics Included in this book:

About the Author

Preface

Introduction

Accountability

Why Should Occupational Therapists Use Rubrics?

Critical Thinking, Clinical Reasoning and Clinical Judgment

Thinking like a Researcher

What is a Rubric?

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Rubrics for an Assessment

Tips for Rubric Development

How Do Rubrics Relate to the IEP?

Types of Rubrics

Just a Word on Organization

Occupational Therapy Assessment

A Balance between Standardized and Non-Standardized Assessments

A More Complete Picture

Interview

Clinical Observations

Components of a Rubric

Goal/Objective/Benchmark

Scoring/Rating Scales

Criteria

Descriptors

Comments

Individual Skill Rubric

Analytic Rubric

Holistic Rubric

Chapter Five

Why are Other Staff Members Taking Data on my Goals?

Making Goals Measurable

What does Measurable Mean?

Goal Development Chart

Collecting Relevant Data

Formative Data

Summative Data

Data Collection

Paperless?

Case Studies

Joey

Task:  Shoe Tying

Plan:  Assessment

Questions & Answers

Results & Follow Up

Charlotte

Task:  Keyboarding

Plan: Assessment

Questions & Answers

Results & Follow Up

Bibliography

Index

Table 1:  Types of Rubrics

Table 2:  This is an example of a Individual skill rubric with benchmarks for a cutting with scissors goal

Table 3:  Sample of Staff Log-In Sheet

Table 4:  Methods of Assessment

Table 5:  Descriptive Terms to Rate Student’s Performance

Table 6:  Sample Holistic Rubric

Table 7:  Sample Measurable Goals  for IEP

Table 8:  Goal Development Chart

Table 9:  Types of Data

Table 10:  Interpreting Data Worksheet

Table 11:  Double Loop Shoe Tying Assessment Rubric

Table 12:  Double Loop Shoe Tying Assessment Data Sheet

Table 13:  Adapted Double Loop Shoe Tying Rubric

Table 14:  Adapted Double Loop Shoe Tying Assessment Rubric Data Collection Sheet

Table 15: One Hand Keyboarding Assessment

Table 16:  Graphic Representation of Data Collected

Table 17: Keyboarding Assessment Rubric

Table 18:  Assessment Rubric: Putting on Socks with One Hand

Table 19:  Data Collection: Putting on Socks with One Hand

Table 20:  Assessment Rubric:  Packaging Utensils

Using Rubrics to Monitor Outcomes in Occupational Therapy Using Rubrics to Monitor Outcomes in Occupational Therapy Every practice setting that an occupational therapist, or any other health care provider, works in is demanding accountability and transparency.

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All About Me- The Student Interview & Patient-Centered Interview

Dr. Anne Zachary recently posted “6 Ways Your Child with Special Needs Can Get the Most out of Occupational Therapy.”  She is so right on to suggest an “All About Me” binder that a parent creates for his or her child.  This binder, as suggested by Dr. Zachary, should include relevant information, service providers, favorite toys, and any other info that the parent feels appropriate.  Dr. Zachary…

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Revisiting The Student Interview

Revisiting The Student Interview

I have worked with middle and high school students most often.  At this age, a student’s frustrations increase proportionally to the workload.  They are aware of what works and what does not work for them.  When frustrations run so high and parents begin to panic, it is at this time other professionals, advocate and lawyers, become involved. The Student Interview was developed because of a number…

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-Using Rubrics to Measure Patient Progress in All Practice Areas

-Using Rubrics to Measure Patient Progress in All Practice Areas

Taken from the handout “Putting on Socks with One Hand” from Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center

The following example of using a rubric in a rehab setting was developed from the handout “Putting on Socks with One Hand” available on Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center site.   The rubric contained in this post was developed from this handout so that the directions that are provided to the patient…

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Expanding your Practice? Have you tried Pop-Up OT?

Expanding your Practice? Have you tried Pop-Up OT?

First let’s talk about what a Pop-Up actually is.  A pop-up is a shared experience that typically uses empty retail space to provide a short-term brick and mortar experience. Pop-ups have been generally used in retail. The idea of a pop-up [a.k.a. flash retail] is that it is short-term and meant to give the retail experience to new businesses or on-line businesses considering a brick and mortar…

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Pushing the Birds out of the Nest

Pushing the Birds out of the Nest

These opinions are my own based on my personal school-based experiences and recent postings from other therapists on social media

When is it time to discharge?

This is always one of the biggest questions when it comes down to CSE Meetings and whether or not to recommend services for students next year. Of course, in a school-based setting, the big ‘money makers’ are handwriting and now…

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Why Write a Rubric? Focused Feedback, with Consensus Across Raters that's why!

Why Write a Rubric? Focused Feedback, with Consensus Across Raters that’s why!

Focused Feedback

After many discussions with other therapists wanting to learn how to write a rubric. I decided that a blog post was needed to clarify why a rubric is important, not only to ourselves but most importantly, to our clients, other professionals and parents/caregivers. As I began my research for this blog, I came across the term “focused feedback.” I think that it is a great way to…

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That Dreaded Word 'Motivation!'

That Dreaded Word ‘Motivation!’

This word is all over IEPs. IMHO, it should be banned.

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The Challenge of Moving Toward Self-Sufficiency with or without Assistive Technology

This blog is concurrently posted on Handwriting With Katherine [—–]

As school districts begin to think about transitioning students with disabilities out of school and onto the next phase of life, the idea of becoming as independent or self-sufficient as possible comes to mind. I prefer to use the term self-sufficient as this term implies a sense of power and strength in addition to not requiring…

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Using Rubrics to Monitor Outcomes in Occupational Therapy (by Eleanor Cawley)

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