Do you like working with children and do you want to learn how to assess and to treat children according to a contemporary task-oriented approach? Then, join the minor pediatric physiotherapy.  
  
Brief description of the minor pediatric physiotherapy.   
In this minor several topics related to motor development, motor control and motor learning are introduced and intensely discussed. The so called ‘task oriented approach’ will be a central issue in the course. That means that motor skills will be regarded as intentional motor actions, which are strongly related to the task which has to be fulfilled, and the environment in which the child performs the task.   
  
A conceptual framework for pediatric physiotherapy will be presented. Models used in pediatric physiotherapy will be discussed and the relationship between some of them will be highlighted.   
  
Video observation will be performed to understand and describe how (ab)normal children move and why they move in the way they do (process diagnostic evaluation). We are going to analyze (problematic) tasks to understand and apply knowledge of motor control, motor learning and motor development. You will be challenged to elicit motor skills at the actual level of the child, and to increase the difficulty of a task step by step. You will be able to manipulate the task and environmental constraints in a way that will change the motor performance in the intended way. New motor learning theories will be introduced and applied thoroughly. Different teaching techniques, used to enhance problematic motor skills in a child, will be taught and trained. Moreover, we will discuss the available scientific evidence and apply this into practice.    
  
After this course you will be able to test children with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (Mabc II) and to analyze and interpret the test results.  The Albert Infant Motor Scale (AIMS), a norm-referenced test for infants, will also be introduced.   
  
Children with DCD (Developmental Coordination Disorder) and CP (cerebral Palsy) will be discussed in the second period of the course.   
  
In this period you will do an outdoor practice and perform several field tasks.  

This minor will provide a comprehensive foundation in pediatric physiotherapy, which can be used as a valuable stepping-stone for your future master study in this field.  
 
Didactical approach  
The minor Pediatric Physiotherapy is built on a variety of challenging study tasks, group work, self-study (literature), and some presentations. Lectures and discussion groups for which the participants have to prepare and practice, will be organized twice a week.  
Brightspace will be used as supporting electronic learning system. This system is available on the internet for all students enrolled in this course.  

Learning goals 

• At the end of the minor you will be able to perform and interpret motometric, motoscopic and process diagnostic examinations in normal children and children with relatively simple (neurological) problems.  
• Moreover, by means of a task-oriented approach you can develop learning arrangements that match the current motor level of the child and his learning style. 

This means that you can make a task analysis of the problematic skill and convert this information into a logic building-up of exercises in ‘baby-steps’. Moreover, you are able to apply teaching techniques by which you can choose consciously for a more explicit or implicit knowledge building in the long term memory of the child, when learning a motor skill. 

You are able to motivate your choices using scientific and theoretical insights from motor control theory, learning theories, developmental kinesiology and physics. 

Entry level  

Exchange students: minimally 3rd year bachelor in physiotherapy. Furthermore, they must be motivated to work with children. Understanding English in conversation, reading and writing should be satisfactory.  See the Avans website (www.avans.nl/international) for detailed information on entry requirements for studying at Avans. 

Course coordination and lecturers  
Ad van Tuijl (coordination & lecturer: alt.vantuijl@avans.nl)
Els Brouwers (lecturer)  

Student profile  

In order to complete this minor you need a free time window of 6 months at your home university. Ask your study advisor from your own study program which conditions apply to participate. 

The minor is open to "exchange" students. 

Required literature  

-  R. A. Schmidt & T. Lee (2014). Motor learning and performance. Stanningley, Human Kinetics, 5th edition. Champaign, Illinois.  
-  Haywood, K.M., Getchell, N. (2014). Life span motor development. Sixth edition. Human kinetics. Champain, Illinois. 

Time schedule 

Meetings at Avans University will be scheduled on Monday and Friday. If no lesson can be scheduled on Monday or Friday due to a national celebration day, then we will schedule classes on Wednesday. 

Credits / Study load   

Internship                         3 EC
Presentation                     3 EC
Group Portfolio period I    7  EC
Group Portfolio period II   3  EC
Assessment/final exam    14 EC

Total                                 30 EC 

Assessments and course credits  
At the end of the first part of the course (after 10 weeks) an assessment will be planned. Each participant will present a topic related to pediatric physiotherapy. The presentation consists of two parts: a theoretical part (PowerPoint presentation) and an interactive workshop.  
At the end of the second part of the course (after 20 weeks) a final test will be scheduled consisting of true-false statements and open questions.  Moreover, each study group will develop a portfolio in which the worksheets and data sheets are collected. Finally, the outdoor practice and field tasks will be graded. To receive the course credits (30 ECTS, workload of 840 hours), all parts have to be graded with a ‘pass’. 

Additional information  

N.B.: Avans program linked to this minor module is: 

Physiotherapy in Breda, in dutch: Opleiding tot Fysiotherapeut Breda (FT-B).
You need this information for registration in Studielink. 

Minor is open to "exchange" students. 

You have to arrange an internship for period 2 of the minor by yourself. 

The minor is offered in the 1st semester (September to February) and the 2nd semester (February to July). 

Ask your study advisor from your own study program which conditions apply to participate. 

The completed learning agreement may be sent by email to: minorenloket.FT.breda@avans.nl