Practicum

Curriculum Guideline

Effective Date:
Course
Discontinued
No
Course Code
CYCC 1240
Descriptive
Practicum
Department
Child and Youth Care
Faculty
Applied Community Studies
Credits
4.50
Start Date
End Term
Not Specified
PLAR
Yes
Semester Length
5 week block placement (Full time) 15 weeks part-time
Max Class Size
32 ratio is 1/8.3
Contact Hours
Seminar: 10 hours Clinical: 140 hours Method of Instructional Delivery: 1. Supervised Practicum 2. Integrative Seminar
Method(s) Of Instruction
Seminar
Practicum
Learning Activities
  • Seminar/Field practice
Course Description
This course provides opportunities for students to translate theory into practice. Students will practice skills in selected sites under supervision. Students will integrate and reflect upon their educational, personal and professional experiences in practicum and seminar.
Course Content

The following global ideas guide the design and delivery of this course:

  • Learning from experience is a characteristic of exceptional practitioners.
  • Practicum settings create opportunities for students to refine their skills of reflection and adaptation in response to their practice experience.
  • Learning in a practicum setting provides opportunities to examine assumptions and biases.
  • Field settings provide opportunities to synthesize personal and classroom experiences and create openings for new learning.  Learners gain both insight and practice knowledge from field experiences.
  • Observing, participating with, and receiving guidance from experienced practitioners is crucial for effective practice.
  • Practitioners who regularly and accurately assess their performance and who set goals for their ongoing professional development are more likely to be effective in their work.
  • A well-developed personal philosophy of practice is a cornerstone of competent human service practice.
  • Experience in the field settings allows learners to demonstrate and enhance their abilities to problem solve, be flexible, think creatively and take responsibility for their actions.
  • Reflecting on and evaluating practicum experiences with clients, colleagues and mentors maximizes field based learning experiences.
Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  1. Professional Skills
    • demonstrate ethical behaviour
    • use supervision and colleagues effectively by seeking and accepting feedback
    • demonstrate changes in performance asked on feedback
    • evaluate and articulate personal strengths and set goals for development
    • establish effective and professional working relationships with colleagues/li>
    • manage personal needs in relation to workplace and clients
    • demonstrate mental and emotional well-being
  2. Work Habits/Accountability
    • complete assigned workload
    • deal with time and stress pressures (including keeping personal problems from affecting work)
    • demonstrate appropriate work habits (punctuality, attendance, dress)
    • maintain energy and enthusiasm
    • demonstrate initiative and responsibility (i.e., learning, seeking out work during unstructured times)
  3. Activity Programming
    • design activity programming for a specific population of children and youth
    • evaluate activity programming and develop new strategies for future sessions
  4. Basic Knowledge of Agency and Community Resources
    • demonstrate basic knowledge of the agency, its history, philosophy, organizational structure, funding programs, and personnel
    • demonstrate basic knowledge of legislation affecting the agency and the people it serves
    • demonstrate knowledge of community resources and the referral process
  5. Interviewing & Counselling Skills
    • be versatile by changing personal style and language to meet the unique needs of individual clients
    • assess and understand client needs
    • demonstrate empathy
    • demonstrate genuineness
    • communicate with clarity and precision
    • use probing skills
    • demonstrate assertiveness
    • recognize and manage personal biases and assumptions
    • describe a crisis and discuss problem solving strategies to support resolution of the crisis.
Means of Assessment

This course will conform to Douglas College policy regarding the number and weighting of evaluations.

  • Practice reports
  • Self-evaluation
  • Field assessment

This is a letter graded course.

Textbook Materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students:

  • No text required.
Prerequisites

CYCC 1141 (or CYCC 1142 or CFCS 1142 or CFCS 1160)

and CFCS 1110 or (DVST 0356)

and CFCS 1130

and one additional CYCC/CFCS course.

Which Prerequisite