Practicum
Curriculum guideline
Effective Date:
Course
Discontinued
No
Course code
CYCC 2440
Descriptive
Practicum
Department
Child and Youth Care
Faculty
Applied Community Studies
Credits
4.50
Start date
End term
201420
PLAR
Yes
Semester length
5 week block placement (full time) 5-10 weeks (part time)
Max class size
30
Contact hours
Seminar: 10 hours
Clinical: 140 hours
Method of Instruction:
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 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:
- 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
- manage personal needs in relation to workplace and clients
- demonstrate mental and emotional well-being
- 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)
- design, implement and evaluate a plan to address a difficulty currently
- Problem resolution
- design, implement and evaluate a plan to address a difficulty currently being experienced by an individual or group in your setting
- describe a crisis and discuss problem solving strategies to support resolution of the crisis
- specify the supports necessary for a client who has experienced abuse to resume a healthy developmental pathway.
- 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
- 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 genuineness
- communicate with clarity and precision
- use probing skills
- demonstrate assertiveness
- recognize and manage personal biases and assumptions
Means of assessment
This course will conform to Douglas College policy regarding the number and weighting of evaluations. Typical means of evaluation would include a combination of:
- Practice Reports
- Self-evaluation
- Field assessment
- Evaluation on this practicum is designed to produce a letter grade in accordance with Douglas College grading policy.
Textbook materials
No text required