Exploring Laboratory Learnings in Therapeutic Recreation

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Laboratory learnings are useful tools to use while teaching a discipline. Labs are useful because they can promote teamwork, includes areas of cognitive, psychomotor and affective domains, and can simulate real-life situations (Hazel, 1995). There are three main laboratory learnings including control exercises, experimental investigations and project work (Hazel, 1995). It is assumed that the same skills can be taught in multiple ways. The multiple ways that these skills can be taught is through the three laboratory experiences. The main domain of this paper will include Therapeutic Recreation. One example from this discipline includes leisure educations. Leisure educations focuses on increasing leisure awareness, learning new leisure …show more content…

Objectives: Participants will engage in open discussions weekly for four weeks.
Supplies/resources: One activity sheet, and a pen or pencil
Sequences: A Crossword is made by the teacher and given to students to complete. Supplies will be distributed and directions will be explained. Students will complete the crossword with questions such as “to increase one’s abilities and skills” and “a period for doing an activity” Finish activity with an open discussion.
Time frame: 30-60 minutes with 2-10 participants (Pettry, 2006).
After the students have completed the activities, they will all have similar outcomes. The teacher based on correct answers will assess the learning.

Experimental investigation differs from controlled exercises because it focuses on providing multiple choices for the students opposed to having the content provided for them. The students are able to make decisions involving design, materials and methods. Experimental investigation is also different because the outcome is not predetermined. This type of laboratory learning involves objectives, a range of equipment and supplies, and assessing the learning (Hazel, 1995). Using an experimental investigation to teach leisure education would include an activity called Playdough …show more content…

Sequences: 10-12 participants spilt into two separate groups. Each group gets Playdough and an array of materials chosen by the students. One person from each group views a note card with a leisure activity on it. The group then has to create the leisure activity from Playdough or any other material chosen by the students. Once they are completed, each group has to guess the other teams activity. The first group to guess correctly earns a point (Cameron, n.d.).
Time frame: One hour

Project work exercises involve the teacher and students working together for real life research activities. This exercise involves agreeing on objectives, scheduling and deadlines, communication, and final report (Hazel, 1995). To teach leisure education though a project work exercise, participants can plan a leisure event. This includes planning, implementing, facilitating and

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