Developing professional competencies in occupational therapy students: Linking student-centred assessment with learning outcomes

Marina Ciccarelli
Curtin University of Technology

Keywords: professional competencies; learning outcomes; student-centred assessment

Allied health tertiary education programmes including occupational therapy, have a responsibility to develop professional competencies in their students. These competencies extend beyond factual knowledge; rather they require the application of evidence-based knowledge and skills within a given context. Course learning outcomes that reflect the required graduate competencies can assist students to focus their learning. Aligning assessment activities with the learning outcomes allow educators to assess students' achievement of the competencies. Providing opportunities for student-centred assessments that are placed in a real world context can facilitate depth of student learning and development of professional competencies.