A pilot study of the Model of Human Occupation based education for first year university students

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the educational program for first year university students, specifically their recognition and understanding towards learning, health perception and emotional quotient. The first year curriculum was based on the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO). The participants were 41 students who took the Career Development I course in the Department of Occupational Therapy at University A. Seven of the 15 sessions were based on MOHO and taught the connection between students skills and career design with a focus on volition, habituation and performance capacity. Students were taught through group work and individual assignments. The program's effectiveness was measured using the students' base attributes, an occupation questionnaire, the MOS 36-Item Health Survey and an Emotional Intelligence Scale (EQS) test. At the conclusion of the program, self reported study time, performance and the EQS total score were significantly increased. Therefore, we could conclude that the first year education program based on MOHO improved students skills, specifically their recognition and understanding towards learning. The program also showed the effectiveness of Emotional Intelligence, which is important in daily life. OQ was used in career design to motivate students to think of their future and their individual educational goals were set with the help of their teachers.