Course Description
This course examines current issues and trends in Therapeutic Recreation. Weekly content, discussions, and projects explore diverse local and global perspectives on topics relevant to the Therapeutic Recreation profession. Topic examples include but are not limited to professionalization, advocacy, marginalized client groups, and healthcare issues in Canada.
Course Content
Critical thinking within the context of the therapeutic recreation profession
- Distinguish between what qualifies as a professional trend versus a professional issue
- Understanding how to increase objectivity when addressing professional trends and issues
- Research and evidence-based responses to trends and issues
Therapeutic recreation issues and trends
- Historical trends and issues
- Advocacy and professionalization for therapeutic recreation, both locally and globally
- Barriers and opportunities for research and graduate education, as well as implications for the future of the therapeutic recreation profession
- Provincial, national, and global philosophical differences within the therapeutic recreation profession
- Changes in the interventions and activities used by practitioners and research that supports new approaches to practice
- Standards of practice as a tool to protect client safety and advance the therapeutic recreation profession
Healthcare issues and trends
- The impact of legislation and funding on health outcomes
- Underserved and emerging populations in healthcare
- Trends and issues, both locally and globally, that disproportionately impact health outcomes for marginalized groups
- Advocating for marginalized clients within our practice
Learning Activities
In this course, students engage in a variety of learning activites such as lecture, class discussions, small group work, and student presentations
Means of Assessment
The means of assessment for this course will align with the delivery mode and adhere to the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. An evaluation schedule is presented at the beginning of the course. This is a graded course. Regardless of format, the assessments include a minimum of three separate assessments and include a combination of:
- Written assignments
- Presentations
- Group facilitation and leadership
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Discuss current social, economic and environmental concerns influencing therapeutic recreation, leisure and recreation and health promotion services in Canada and internationally;
- Analyze current issues in the emerging therapeutic recreation, leisure and recreation, and health promotion professions;
- Analyze the trends and challenges of therapeutic recreation, leisure and recreation, and health promotion in Canada and internationally;
- Synthesize knowledge of health and leisure in developing a comprehensive understanding of the future of therapeutic recreation, leisure and recreation, and health promotion services;
- Discuss methods and resources to foster professional competence in therapeutic recreation, leisure and recreation and health promotion fields;
- Apply knowledge of professional and current issues in therapeutic recreation, leisure and recreation and health promotion services.
Textbook Materials
Textbooks and materials are to be purchased by students. A list of required textbooks and materials is provided for students at the beginning of the semester.