What is the Doctorate Capstone Study?

Summary:

In January 2023, a Widener University occupational therapy doctoral candidate will work with teachers at the Edgemont Scholars Academy (EAS) to examine the implementation of a sensory path designed to improve behavioral self-regulation for students. EAS is a mid-size, urban public school serving kindergarten through eighth-grade students in Chester, Pennsylvania. Edgemont is committed to providing all students opportunities to achieve excellence in the four A’s: Academics, Athletics, Arts, and Activities. This project addresses self-regulation and behavioral issues that significantly impact occupational performance at EAS. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, children aged 6 through 12 missed crucial developmental stages with the transition to virtual learning. Sixth graders experience difficulty understanding the seriousness and consequences of their actions. Therefore, these students struggled with academic performance with the transition to in-person classes. In addition, behaviors resulted in outbursts due to these challenges with self-regulation. A sensory path provides students with a self-regulation tool to manage their behavioral outbursts.  Nature-based interventions also promote socializing skills because proper social skills are a crucial milestone for 6th graders. Since interacting with one another in nature is an essential part of socializing, these children will greatly benefit from this learning style. Nature-based interventions dampen their social anxiety, poor regulation skills, and outbursts.​

The ​outdoor sensory path contains five stations. These stations include five things you see, four things you touch, three things you hear, two things you smell, and one thing you taste. All station materials require durability to sustain outside climate changes with little maintenance.   

This project is crucial to a holistic approach to learning, as this learning style aids in the initiation of self-regulation for 6th graders at EAS.

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Awards and Grants:

The Local Community Grant from Walmart and a donation for School Educational Projects from Snyder Ace Hardware fund this project. ​

 

Type of project:

Feasibility and Program Development​

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Focus Area:

Program Development and Education​

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Purpose:   

Based on the need assessment completed at Edgemont Scholar Academics (EAS), formally known as the Widener Partnership Charter School (WPCS), with the Faculty Mentor Kelly A. D'Eletto, M. Ed, and principal/CEO, Mr. Kareem Goodwin, expressed six needs: one-on-one, behavior support, emotional and social support/education, a school uniform shortage, and wheelchair accessibility. Primary demand consists of support for the children and their behaviors. This capstone project aims to explore the feasibility of using a Nature- Based Sensory path designed to improve behavioral self-regulation for students at ESA and to educate EAS teachers on its use. 

 

PICO question:

The capstone student will focus on the following: “Is it feasible to implement a Nature-Based Sensory Path for students at EAS to support improved behavioral self-regulation?”

 

The frame of Reference:

Sensory Integration (SI) follows a developmental approach that identifies the child's strengths and participation challenges with the family needs and concerns involved (Cole & Tufano, 2020). The students at Edgemont Scholar Academy will have the opportunity to organize and integrate their sensory integration in the sensory path to help encourage development in everyday environments. 

 

Model:

KAWA, created in the 1990s, focused on mental health.

 

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