Module A: Foundations of Sensory Integration
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Summary
Single module fee: £1,880
- 40 UK university academic credits - globally recognised and highly transferable
- 18-week course (fixed start and end dates, includes 12 weeks of teaching)
- Personal eMentor to support your progress
- Online access to partner Sheffield Hallam University Library and Disabled Student Support
- Student discussions groups
- Optional Live weekly Zoom sessions with your eMentor and fellow students
- Optional Live Assessment Q&A Zoom sessions
- Content will be available to you as a resource after assessment (12 months in total)
- Free Microsoft Office 365
Eligibility
This module is available to study as a stand-alone module for anyone holding an Honours degree and:
- HCPC (or equivalent) registered: Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Practitioner Psychologists (including clinical and educational psychologists) and Dietitians
- NMC (or equivalent) registered nurses.
- Other suitably qualified professionals will be considered on case-by-case basis by completing this form. Our team will follow up with you upon completing the review of your information.
Overview
This module introduces students to key concepts in sensory processing and integration, focusing on foundational theories, change mechanisms and practical applications. Students will explore foundational mechanisms of sensory processing, critically evaluate literature, and apply clinical reasoning to real-world sensory integration challenges while considering ethical and professional practices.
Module Content
Overview of sensory processing systems and how sensory integration occurs
- Examination of key theories and principles of sensory integration
- Structure and development of the nervous system
- Neuroplasticity and its role in sensory processing
- Social, emotional and regulatory development in the nervous system
- Interoception
- Posture, body scheme, and praxis
- Sensory systems (vestibular, visual, proprioception, tactile, auditory, olfactory and gustatory)
- Developing critical thinking and clinical reasoning in sensory integration
- Researching and evaluating literature relevant to sensory processing
- Understanding ethical practice and professional competency within sensory integration
- Application of sensory processing frameworks to everyday challenges impacting participation
Learning and Teaching Summary
This online module delivers key lectures to build a solid understanding of sensory integration and the neuroscience behind it. These lectures are designed to be delivered at critical points, supporting your learning progression throughout the module.
In addition to the lectures, you will engage with live workshops, video resources and practical tasks, allowing you to apply key concepts to real-world scenarios. Interactive activities, problem-solving exercises, and group discussions will promote collaborative learning and help you connect theory to practice.
Throughout the module, you will collaborate with peers, exchange feedback, and reflect on your learning, fostering critical thinking and professional communication. The flexible structure allows you to study at your own pace while progressively deepening your understanding and confidence in inclusive and problem-based learning.
By the end of the module, you will have developed a comprehensive understanding of sensory integration and gained the tools to apply this knowledge in practice, enhancing your ability to address real-life challenges related to sensory processing, in keeping with research-enriched and applied learning practices.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module you will be able to:
- Evaluate and synthesise theories, principles, and concepts in sensory processing and integration, enabling exploration of mechanisms of change, and application to practice within knowledge boundaries.
- Critically appraise literature relevant to sensory processing and integration, reflecting on application to practice.
- Analyse information using foundational critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills in relation to sensory processing and integration challenges that affect participation.
- Apply a sensory processing and integration frame of reference, to explore how the person engages with their world, while upholding ethical and sustainable values.
Assessments
Students are assessed via online written assignments which consist of 2 tasks:
Task 1 - 3000-word assignment
Task weighting = 80%
Task 2 - 1000-word reflection piece
Task weighting = 20%
Students must complete both tasks by a set hand-in date in the final week of the module.
To pass the module, both tasks must be completed and passed.
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