Occupational Performance of Adulthood Syllabus for 2025-2026
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Instructor Information

Course Information

AI Statement

Collusion is defined as “the unauthorized collaboration with another person or by any other means, including artificial intelligence (AI) and computer translators, in preparing work for fulfillment of course requirements.” Using AI like (ChatGPT or Google Gemini) to create a document is considered colluding. The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence on specific assignments is at the discretion of the instructor.

Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Reporting

Amarillo College prohibits discrimination and harassment based on sex, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking, under Title IX and Texas Education Code §51.253–255. Faculty and staff are mandatory reporters and must share any related concerns with the Title IX Coordinator at titleix@actx.edu. Reports and additional information are available at https://www.actx.edu/hr/title-ixtitle-ix. Confidential counseling and advocacy services are available through the Counseling Center and Advocacy & Resource Center.

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Enrollment Center, Suite 700. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Tutoring for Success applies to any student whose overall performance in the course falls below 75%. The instructor will create the task in the Student Engagement Portal (Watermark) to direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty- or SI-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. The tutoring service assigned, the due date for when the tutoring must be completed, and the amount of tutoring required are at the discretion of the instructor. Additionally, the task will alert the student’s success team. Students who do not fulfill the assigned tutoring task may be subject to program- and course-specific penalties that could result in a grade reduction and/or in not being allowed to progress in the course until the tutoring requirement has been satisfied.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

OTHA-1249-001 Occupational Performance of Adulthood

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: OTHA 1415

Course Description

Occupational performance of adults. Includes frames of reference, evaluation tools and techniques, and intervention strategies.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(2 sem hrs; 1 lec, 4 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Lifespan Development: A Chronological Approach, 4th edition, Kraynok, Seifert, Hoffnung & Hoffnung

Selected readings from AJOT (membership required)

Selected readings as discovered by student or assigned by faculty

Selected readings as provided byfaculty through various formats (directed to sites, Blackboard, email)

Additional texts previously purchased including Early, Reed's, Jacob’s/Simon, Introduction to OT, The OTA's Guide to Documentation:Writing SOAP note and Framework

Supplies

Class assignment materials for presentations, projects, observations

AOTA membership to access articles, resources

Computer with internet capability IN CLASS as well as out of class  and print capability

Professional dress, travel and supplies for fieldwork

Student Performance

At the end of the course, the Amarillo College OTA student will be able to

Discuss occupational performance of adults including frames of reference, evaluation tools and techniques and intervention strategies. (WECM outcome)

Identify components of health and wellness, develop adaptations for age-appropriate occupations, identify the client factors that affect occupational performance, demonstrate skills in the evaluation process, select intervention strategies to facilitate occupational performance. (WECM end of course outcome)

Connection to and consistency with the OTA program curriculum design:

Adulthood moves the student from a familiar and earlier period of life(childhood) right into the present for 99% of enrolled OTA students. This is in keeping with the concept of general to specific and familiar toward unfamiliar as this course is followed in content and sequence by elders in the following semester.This course has Level I psychosocial fieldwork imbedded at the end of the course for a one week full time clinical experience.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

Creating a Professional Learning Environment

Technology in the Classroom: Your laptop is welcome for note-taking and testing. Feel free to use your phone when your instructor gives the go-ahead. To help everyone stay focused, please keep all devices on silent and either out of sight or face-down on your desk during class. Our ADL lab spaces (bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, utility areas) are designed for hands-on learning, so please use them only for educational activities or with instructor approval.

Professional Dress: Preparing for Your Future Career: When professional dress is required, you'll be practicing the same standards you'll follow as a working OTA. Here's what to wear:

• Clothing: Black scrub pants plus your OTA program collared shirt able to be tucked in if requested

• Footwear: Closed-toe, closed-heel sneakers or dress shoes with heels under 1 inch with socks or hosiery that pull up to mid calf or higher

• ID Badge: Your AC Health Sciences name badge on the right collar

Personal Appearance Guidelines: As future healthcare professionals, we maintain a polished, client-appropriate appearance:

• Keep jewelry and fragrance minimal

• Ear studs (women) and a single nose stud are acceptable; other piercings should be removed before clinical rotations

• Makeup should be natural and professional

• Tattoos are generally acceptable. Some may be required by a clinical site to be covered.

• Hair colors should look natural - if you're unsure about a color choice, just ask the program director before you make the change

Why This Matters: These standards help you develop the professional presence you'll need in healthcare settings and ensure you're ready for clinical experiences. If you have questions about any of these guidelines, your program director is always available to help clarify.

Note: Professional dress requirements are tied to specific assignments, site visits, and fieldwork participation.

Grading Criteria

The final course grade will be computed as follows:

Exams (equally weighted)                                                   20%

Professional development                                                    10%

Portfolio (assignments in-class, out-of-class)                      20%            

Fieldwork                                                                             20%

Practicals (equally weighted)                                               15%

Final Examination                                                                15%     

 TOTAL                                                                              100%

Major Exams = 20%

Exams will be announced in advance (usually one (1) week notice). Exams will be administered during class time in a location to be determined by the faculty member. Typical locations include the Allied Health classroom, additional Allied Health rooms, the testing center and Building A. Exams will be 100+ questions with a 2 hour time limit. The student may be monitored, proctored, or recorded during testing. Exams are equally weighted in this course.

Missed exam/s – The highest grade to be achieved on a missed/make-up exam will be 95%.  The learner is responsible to request a make-up exam with the course instructor. 

Missed exams will be made up within 8 calendar days on campus at a time to be determined in collaboration with the course instructor. If a learner fails to sit for the make-up exam/s during the assigned time for any reason, a zero (0%) will be given for that exam/s. If the learner experiences an extended absence (more than 3 course meetings) the program director will confer with the course instructor and the learner regarding the missed exam.

Professional Development = 10%

This portion of the grade is based on prompt and full attendance of class time. The learner begins the semester with 100 points in this category worth 10% of the course grade. See the attendance section for details of how this grade is created.  

Portfolio assignments = 20%

A time limit will be given or negotiated that is reasonable for completion for in class and out of class assignments.  A learner will not be allowed to continue past the time limit as announced on any single assignment. Portfolio assignments vary in complexity and design. Each learner is expected to complete the assignment independently. Each learner in a group is expected to contribute. Classmates may contribute the grading process when group work is assigned. For this course, SOAP notes, interviews, occupational profiles and quizzes plus other assignments the faculty make might be included in this category. 

Fieldwork = 20% 

If a student does not pass the fieldwork component of the course, the student fails the entire course, must repeat the class for credit and can not move forward in the program. Fieldwork takes place the week PRIOR to finals. The student is expected to attend full time the days assigned. For this course, that is usually Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM

Practicals = 15%

Practicals are a method of assessing student skills and involves hands on techniques. Practicals will require the student to role play being a patient/client as well as being an OT practitioner who assess a fellow student as patient/client. If available, persons other than classmates may act in the role of patient/client. 

Final Exam = 20%

The final examination will be comprehensive to evaluate the effectiveness of the entire course and the knowledge gained. If a learner fails to take the final exam, a 0 (Zero) will be recorded for the final and an "F" will be recorded for the course grade. 

The following grade scale applies throughout this course:

          A = 92.5 - 100

          B = 83.5 - 92.4

          C = 74.5 - 83.4

          F = 74.4 and below    

GRADES ARE NOT ROUNDED UP. A 74.4 WILL NOT BE ROUNDED UP TO A 74.5. LIKEWISE, NO OTHER GRADE POINTS WILL BE ROUNDED UP TO THE NEXT HIGHER LETTER GRADE.

Attendance

Your Success Starts with Being Here

Attending class regularly is one of the most important steps you can take toward reaching your goals in the Occupational Therapy Assistant program. When you're present and engaged, you're setting yourself up for success - not just in meeting program requirements, but in building the knowledge and skills you'll need as a future OTA professional.

We know life happens, and we're here to support you when challenges arise. If you're having difficulty attending class, please reach out to us early so we can work together to keep you on track toward graduation.

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