Mapping an Australian Occupational Therapy curriculum: Linking intended learning outcomes with entry-level competency...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Therapy Education
• Curriculum Development
• Competency-Based Education

Background:

• Curriculum mapping systematically aligns program content with professional competencies.
• This process identifies strengths, gaps, and redundancies in educational programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically map the occupational therapy curriculum against professional competency standards.
• To identify alignment and gaps between intended learning outcomes and competency requirements.

Main Methods:

• Intended learning outcomes (ILOs) from individual courses were linked to the Australian Competency Standards for Occupational Therapists (ACSOT) and Miller's Framework.
• Five occupational therapy academics and two research assistants performed the mapping, with a systematic protocol for transparency and discrepancy resolution.

Main Results:

• A significant portion of the curriculum (47%) mapped to ACSOT Unit 1 (Professional attitudes and behaviours).
• No links were found for specific elements related to evaluation, cessation, and quality assurance.
• Inconsistencies in ILO specificity and language, along with ambiguities in the standards, were identified.

Conclusions:

• Curriculum mapping is recommended for critical reflection on occupational therapy program content and pedagogical approaches.
• The study identified strengths and weaknesses in the curriculum and provided insights for future revisions of the ACSOT.