The Functional Simulated Technology Tasks (FSTT) was created to offer OTs a new way to assess cognition, specifically, the executive functions needed to complete more complex tasks. These tasks allow clients to participate in simulated, novel, tasks related to real-life demands. Information gathered during these tasks can be utilized by therapists to better assist their client in actual day to day activities that require the same skills. These tasks are unique in that they utilize web-based technology, a feature that is currently limited in most occupational therapy assessments and intervention tools.
The FSTT activities were developed following the format utilized by the Performance Assessment of Self Care Skills (PASS), an occupation-based performance measure (Rogers, JC & Holm, MB © 1989, 1994). Additional information on this assessment can be acquired by contacting the PASS authors or through OT literature (Holm & Rogers, 1999).
The developers of the simulated online activities followed the protocol offered by the authors of the PASS for developing a new item. Among the documents needed for the activities you will find the instructions and a score sheet. Both of these follow the PASS documentation and scoring format. For scoring details, please reference PASS Guidelines. We are currently conducting research to evaluate the inter-rater reliability and content validity of these items. You can find information on the preliminary data in Cardell, B., Swain, L. J., Burnett, A. (2013). Construct validity of the functionally simulated technology task: An exploratory study. Occupational Therapy in Health Care. 27(4) 345-354.
Our goal is to develop several different technology based activities that simulate real world demands and are readily available for occupational therapists to use as part of an occupation-based practice. At this time there are two activities, with plans to add at least two additional.
On-line Bill Pay: Client must find and navigate the website, manipulate print-outs of actual bills and credit cards, understand directions from the website, refer to the bills for information (account number, amounts due, etc.), enter information into the computer, and solve problems based on feedback from the website. If you are a first time user, you may want to review this cheat sheet (pdf download) before using the task with a client.
Print the following documents needed to utilize the simulated online bill pay activity:
On-line Shopping: Client must manipulate and make decisions pertaining to shopping for a specific type of clothing. This requires finding and navigating the website, searching for the correct products, selecting items (based on sizing, pricing, color, and type of clothing), and correctly entering all information into the computer in order to complete the purchase.
Print the following documents needed to utilize the simulated online shopping activity:
On-line Movie Tickets (Coming soon): Client must manipulate and make decisions pertaining to buying tickets for a movie. This requires finding a movie with the appropriate rating and purchasing tickets at a certain time and correctly entering all information into the computer in order to complete the purchase.
Holm, M.B., & Rogers, J.C. (1999). Performance assessment of self-care skills. In B.J. Hemphill-Pearson (Ed.), Assessments in Occupational Therapy Mental Health: An integrative approach (pp. 117-124). Thorofare, NJ: SLACK Incorporated.