Teaching activity, research and extension evaluation in surveillance of child development: the perspective of occupational therapy undergraduate students

Abstract

The Curricular Activity of Integration between Education, Research and Extension (ACIEPE) “Child development from birth to six years and the work of Occupational Therapy”, offered by the faculty of Occupational Therapy of Federal University of São Carlos between March and September 2013, aimed to create a dialogue between educators of the municipal network of early childhood education and undergraduate students on issues involving the promotion of child development in family and school routines. This is an experience report describing the students’ evaluation of the content covered in this ACIEPE, discussing the implications of this activity in education. It is a descriptive investigative study of qualitative approach with the application of a questionnaire to nineteen students who participated in the ACIEPE. We highlight gains in the interdisciplinary experience, in communication with teachers, in the production of interventions and in increasing knowledge about Occupational Therapy practices. Students also identify the experience as challenging and claim to have obtained greater deepening of the possibilities of Occupational Therapy practice in the context of early childhood education, improving their knowledge about the binding process with both children and teachers.