Introduction to Practicum
After reading the article here called, 'What is a Practicum', please make sure to download the required forms that you will be using for your Practicum which are attached below.
*Practicum Supervisor Meeting Log
*The Student, Administrator and Practicum Agreement
*The Student Practicum Responsibility Form
What is a Practicum?
“A Practicum is any experience wherein students learn by taking on responsible roles as workers in organizations and observing and reflecting on what happens while they are there.
Expected outcomes of such experiences include increased self-esteem and personal growth derived from successfully meeting new interpersonal and intellectual challenges, acquisition on particular skills and knowledge, exposure to various work roles and career choices, and services, and service to a particular community or group....” 1
1 Stanton, T. and Kamil A., The Experienced Hand: A Student Manual for making the Most of an Internship, The Carroll Press, Cranston RI 1987, p.1
The Modular Education Program for Activity Professionals (MEPAP) course should provide students with field work in competence training and skill building through directed, closely supervised involvement in a community that has exposure to the varied continuum of care to encompass activity programming and documentation. Professionally supervised individual and/or group focused involvement in which students practice their skills is required. In addition to the fieldwork, students should also meet routinely to share their practicum experiences.
Overview of Practicum Process:
As student interns, the students are expected to complete a minimum of 90 hours (per section) of service at a pre-approved human services agency; i.e. a nursing home, a skilled facility, long term care agency etc. Students are expected to secure their own placement at an agency, with direction and guidance from the instructor. The first step in this process is to ask some questions to stimulate critical thinking regarding oneself and one’s goals for working in the field.
The next step is for the student to begin the process of identifying and interviewing at several agencies as potential placement sites. Instructors can provide a list of suggested sites that they may have an agreement with, or that they know are willing to have interns, but other agencies should be considered by the student as well.
The next step would be for the students to interview at the facility they select, asking appropriate questions to determine if the facility is indeed suitable for their practical experience. Once an agency placement site has been agreed on, there should be communication between the student, the agency supervisor and the Instructor to determine goals for the placement learning, and how they will be achieved. All parties should sign a practicum agreement, defining these goals and the practicum supervisor responsibilities. At the end of the practicum experience there should also be communication between the Instructor and the practicum supervisor to determine the goals have been met.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE INSTRUCTOR FOR THE PRACTICUM
1.To assist the student in selecting an appropriate practicum site. *The Instructor needs to determine if the student is employed full time, if the facility is an appropriate field practicum setting to encompass the entire learning objective(s) of the MEPAP course(s). *If the Instructor determines that the facility is not appropriate for the entire practicum experience, than an additional practicum agency may be necessary, at the discretion of the Instructor.
2.To work with the student and the practicum supervisor to develop mutually agreeable learning goals for the student during the placement period.
3.To maintain contact with the agency administrator and the practicum supervisor regarding on-going evaluation of practicum experience.
4.To meet with the student on an individual basis, as needed during the placement period, to discuss progress and concerns.
5.To visit the student at the agency, if able, at least one time during the placement period to identify any needs and concerns, and to evaluate progress of the learning goals. *Adaptive communication might be necessary if the number of students, and/or location makes this step difficult.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PRACTICUM AGENCY
1.To accept that personnel additions to the facility through student placement have an educational component that requires the expenditure of considerable time by the staff member that will be serving as the practicum supervisor. Practicum supervisors must be experienced professionals as defined by the MEPAP standards and need to be allowed sufficient agency time to prepare for the student’s arrival, develop orientation plans, and to establish regular supervisory communication with the student(s).
2.To provide a practicum experience, totaling 90 hours as a minimum (per section).
3.Approve agency contract completed by each student.
4.Provide an ongoing observation and feedback on overall performance–completing requested forms in a timely manner.
5.Confer with Instructor periodically to discuss any problems that arise and/or suggestions for improving the practicum programs.
6.To allow student participation in the organizational structure of the agency. This may include; providing opportunities for the student to function as a member of the professional staff, attend staff meetings, and attend other relevant meetings.
7.To make available, when possible, workspace and other resources required for the student to work effectively.
8.To ensure that a student placed at the facility will always be working along with an agency staff member when with the residents and they not be asked to transport the residents, feed the residents, or provide any other service to the resident that should be conducted by a staff person with the individualized training in those areas.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PRACTICUM SUPERVISOR
1.Sign the practicum placement contract, follow through with the agency supervisor for their signature, and submit to the Instructor.
2.To meet/communicate with the Instructor and the student at the beginning and end of the practicum placement.
3.To provide the initial orientation to the agency structure, program and policies and procedures, including the mission of the agency and the history of its development.
4.To develop a varied learning experience for the student, including opportunities to work with individuals, groups and/or the wider community.
5.To meet individually with the student for a minimum of 30 minutes each week, to provide supervision and assessment on an on-going basis, as well as be reasonably available for informal questions as the need arises.
6.To help the student develop an understanding of the network of human services
agencies in the community, and how it relates to the residents served.
7.To assist the student develop basic skills in interviewing and counseling, observation, record keeping, leadership, working with diverse populations, affecting social change, and developing his/her professional identity.
8.Provide ongoing observation and feedback on overall performance for each student.
9.To complete the final evaluation form for submission to the instructor. This should be done jointly with the student.
PRACTICUM RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STUDENT
1.To arrange interviews with prospective agencies for practicum placement.
2.To finalize arrangements for the practicum placement prior to the beginning of class.
3.To develop goals in conjunction with the practicum supervisor and Instructor.
4.To meet weekly with the practicum supervisor a minimum of 30 minutes to discuss concerns and learning objectives.
5.To maintain a journal of practicum experience.
6.To complete the student log; to track the practicum hours for the course.
7.To function as a responsible professional in carrying out assignments and developing relationships with co-workers, supervisors and the residents.
8.To participate in the final evaluation with the practicum supervisor; as a basis for the final written evaluation of the student’s practicum placement experience.
9.To complete an evaluation of the overall course experience in the designated time frame, upon completion of the course.
3 comments