Process-oriented guided-inquiry learning: a natural fit for occupational therapy education.

Area of Science:

• Occupational Therapy Education
• Pedagogical Strategies

Background:

• Cooperative learning strategies are vital in higher education.
• Traditional teaching methods may not fully develop essential skills for healthcare professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present Process-Oriented Guided-Inquiry Learning (POGIL) as an effective teaching strategy for occupational therapy.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for implementing POGIL in occupational therapy curricula.

Main Methods:

• Review of major group cooperative learning strategies.
• Detailed presentation of the POGIL format and its application.
• Incorporation of literature evidence and authors' 4-year practical experience.

Main Results:

• POGIL demonstrates effectiveness in enhancing critical thinking skills.
• The strategy improves content retention among students.
• POGIL fosters enhanced teamwork and collaborative abilities.

Conclusions:

• Process-Oriented Guided-Inquiry Learning (POGIL) is a highly recommended pedagogical approach for occupational therapy programs.
• Implementation of POGIL can significantly benefit student learning outcomes in evidence-based practice courses.