Occupational Therapy Foundations Practice Exam

Dissecting a task into the smallest observable actions that must be carried out in a defined order. Discrete steps are those specific actions that are separable from one another and can be performed in sequence to complete the task. This level of granularity lets you analyze exactly where a person might struggle, teach or grade each action individually, and then chain them together to achieve the overall task.

For example, brushing teeth can be broken into discrete steps like picking up the toothbrush, applying toothpaste, wetting the brush, brushing with a specific technique for a set amount of time, rinsing, and spitting. Each step is a distinct action that can be observed, practiced, and measured, and the order matters for successful completion.

Broad goals describe the overall outcome the person is aiming for, not the individual actions. The general flow refers to the broad sequence of activities without detailing the separable actions. Prerequisites are the conditions or skills needed before starting the task, not the steps themselves.