Dr. Henry Sawyerr/ Ms. Yetunde Olulegan.

CMH 204: PRACTICUM AND CLINICAL

FIELD ATTACHMENT [I]

THE AIM OF THIS COURSE IS TO PROVIDE A CLASS-ROOM BASED PREPARATORY ASSESSMENT FOR STUDENTS WHO WILL BE GOING

ON THEIR CLINICAL FIELD ATTACHMENTS IN THE COMING

YEAR.

…

…

CHM 204: PRACTICUM AND CLINICAL FIELD ATTACHMENT

SHOULD PROVIDE:

DEFINITION OF TERMS

SKILLS TO ACQUIRE DURING WORK ATTACHMENTS

WORK ETIQUETTE

SKILLS FOR HANDLING DIFFICULT SITUATIONS

CASE SCENARIOS

DAY 1…

“Happiness doesn't result from what we get, but from

what we give.” ―Ben Carson

…

“You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.”

― Kahlil Gibran

…

A practicum is an exciting learning experience that

affords you the opportunity to observe and participate in

diverse experimental community or clinical

settings.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

During the practicum, introspection, personal

change, professional growth, and self-assessment will empower your sense of

development as a professional.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

The opportunity to work in a practical setting within your

field coupled with supportive guidance from the instructor

will give you a strong sense of professional self-growth.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

A practicum is an exciting opportunity to

learn and gain "real world" experience in

the field.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Although it is recognized that field experience requires time, energy and personal commitment beyond

that of traditional University classes practicum are a fun part of

the educational program which many students have considered to be a highlight of their education.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

A practicum is a course, often in a specialized field of study,

that is designed to give students supervised practical application of a previously or concurrently studied theory.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Practicums (student practicals/ experiments/ community

development projects) are common for improving

education and social work majors. It is also called work placement.

HOW TO SELECT A

PRACTICUM

SITE

…

Practicum selection has a lot to do with individual choice.

Some questions you may want to ask yourself before

selecting a practicum site

are:

PRACTICUM SITE CHOICES

What community of people do I want to

work with?

PRACTICUM SITE CHOICES

What population have I never

worked with?

PRACTICUM SITE CHOICES

What kind of skills do I want

to develop?

PRACTICUM SITE CHOICES

What knowledge am I trying to gain?

PRACTICUM SITE CHOICES

Your reasons for whichever site you choose will likely shape

your focus and goals once you begin, so you may want to

identify your interests and goals at the time you decide on your

practicum site.

PRACTICUM SITE CHOICES

CRITERIA FOR FINDING

YOUR OWN

PRACTICUM

SITE.

THE SELECTED SITE MUST:

Present an opportunity to work with or for

people with disabling conditions and /or

chronic health concerns

THE SELECTED SITE MUST:

Pose learning opportunities

within an educational context

THE SELECTED SITE MUST:

Challenge you with new

learning skills

THE SELECTED SITE MUST:

Facilitate assignments and responsibilities consistent with the

course of enrolment

THE SELECTED SITE MUST:

The Practicum Learning Program is usually comprised of four learning areas:

…

Proposed Activities: this is what you will be doing while at your practicum site, this includes your

role and responsibilities.

…

Student Goals - skill development: this is what skills you are looking to

improve or develop during your time at the practicum

site.

…

"Student Goals - Professional Development" differs from the previous "Skill Development"

student Goals, in that "Professional Development" goals are comprised of transferable skills such as time management, understanding of

professional roles, and assertiveness.

…

"Professional Development" goals could be worked on within any practicum site

whereas "Skill Development" goals are site and content

specific.

…

Written Assignment: this is your opportunity to make a

contribution to the practicum site. Together with your Site

Facilitator you negotiate a work-related project with practical

application to the site.

…

RESPONSIBILITIES

OF A

PRACTICUM

STUDENT

Your role within the PRACTICUM SITE may affect how smoothly

the community or establishment runs, so being clear about your availability and the length of your stay will be important to

the agency and its clients.

…

Commitment is not just about completing your hours. Punctuality,

dedication and responsibility are also involved. If at anytime you experience

troubles, have questions or concerns regarding your placement, it is your

responsibility to talk to your Practicum Instructor or Coordinator.

…

KWASU (CEERMS) is always willing and ready to help you with any needs that you have. We cannot stress enough how important it is for you to take your own role in

your practicum. It is after all, your practicum experience, your learning

and you shaping your future.

…

As a practicum student at an agency, community or

establishment, you will most likely be placed in the role of

'helper'. This is a caregiving role that is based on a number of

attributes:

…

Being an effective helper is being a good companion. Companionship involves feelings of unconditional

acceptance and valuing, relatedness, mutual support, empathy and

warmth, dialogue, sharing and trust towards individuals or groups you

are working with.

FEELINGS OF COMPANIONSHIP:

The installation of feelings of companionship may ask us to express

warmth to those who have been marginalized, shunned and who may

not trust. This may not always be easy, however, we must endure difficult

times in order to reach a place where our giving is reciprocated.

FEELINGS OF COMPANIONSHIP:

We are no more and no less than any other. The purpose of caregiving is not to rid people of behavioral difficulties, nor to

instruct them to obey. It is most important to help others to live, work and play within

family and community. It is vital, in order to develop companionship, to teach and

reciprocate respect, not because anyone earned it, but because we are all human. This

means acceptance with dignity.

BEING HUMAN

Empathy is not pity. It is a feeling of being one with others. It is about

understanding the wholeness of an individual, including their past, their reality, vulnerability, strengths, and weaknesses. It involves a spirit of common humanity and the belief

that we all exist interdependently. Empathy understands.

EMPATHY:

Values must be closely examined, especially to avoid being

overpowering, punishing, and controlling. Our values must convey a

message of acceptance of the full human being that we all are - in mind, body and spirit. Remember no action is value-free. All of our interactions

communicate what we feel or believe about each other.

VALUES AND ACTIONS

There are four steps in the process of

establishing companionship.

…

Creating a feeling of companionship is the primary goal of being a helper. We need to support the individual or group

of people to feel safe and to develop trust. We must show, through our actions,

that we support and value the individuals and that we represent

sources of companionship; not as sources of power that oppress but rather using our personal power to become allies.

PRIMARY GOAL:

As a helper, one must commit to making certain that our presence

signifies feelings of safety and security. Our interactions must signal warmth, serenity, and tolerance. This can only be demonstrated through a

true reflection of our values of equality.

FEELINGS OF OUR PRESENCE

Human engagement is teaching the belief that it is good to be with and participate with other human

beings. Human engagement involves a desire to be with another, not a desire to do a

particular task.

FEELINGS OF HUMAN ENGAGEMENT

Instead of making an individual comply by giving rewards and

punishments, a good helper values the individual and allows them the

opportunity to be together, because both individuals want to. Rewards

and punishments are built of power, not equality.

FEELINGS OF HUMAN ENGAGEMENT

To value another is to uplift, honor, respect, listen, empower, reflect, and

share feelings regardless of deeds alone. Value should not be contingent on

behavior or earning this respect. Being valued and valuing others is the central

dimension in the establishment of companionship.

THE MEANING OF UNCONDITIONAL VALUING

Expectations of the student within

the practicumsetting:

…

Respecting policies and procedures of

the agency/ Establishment or

organization.

EXPECTATIONS

Maintaining attendance and

punctuality.

EXPECTATIONS

Informing the site facilitator/ Practicum

Instructor of all expected absences.

EXPECTATIONS

Interacting respectfully with all

supervisors and colleagues.

EXPECTATIONS

Seeking and accepting feedback from

Practicum Course Instructor/ Coordinator.

EXPECTATIONS

Exerting maximum effort in completing

tasks and assignments.

EXPECTATIONS

Asking questions whenever unsure of any

and all policies, procedures, assignment

guidelines, and expectations.

EXPECTATIONS

Understandingyour level of competence.

EXPECTATIONS

Upholding a level of professionalism in attire, language, attitude and

respecting all matters of the agency/ organization or

establishment as confidential.

EXPECTATIONS

Good Time Management Skills; most students have full course

loads and some have part time jobs - being effective in time

management skills will not only make more efficient use of your

time but helps you prioritize what you want to accomplish

EXPECTATIONS

A practicum is always time limited. From the time you begin you know that your stay with your practicum

host is temporary. While you are involved with an organization you

become a part of its functioning, and the organization depends on you.

CLOSURE

Rewards may be professional, personal or both. Personal rewards

include skill development, greater awareness of likes

and dislikes and more.

REWARDS OF PRACTICUM EXPERIENCES

Professionally, a practicum can build networks, increase

employment leads and contacts, lead into job opportunities,

increase our knowledge in a particular area of the field and

provide opportunities to develop personal philosophies and practice.

…

The most important reward may be life experience and enjoyment. Helping another person, participating in your community and sharing who

you are with others will intensify your life experience.

…

Rewards are reciprocal; your energy rewards others. A

practicum is a mutually beneficial experience. Your time, input, commitment and energy contribute to the operation and

growth of an agency.

…

As much as you learn from them they learn from you as well. More

specifically, the individual person or persons you work with benefit. In a practicum placement, you have the opportunity to make a difference in

the life of another person. That is quite an accomplishment!

…

New experiences often lead to growth and development, challenging us to learn and perhaps change how we do some things, and review our values and beliefs. These

challenges can assist you in your professional and personal development.

Challenges may evoke feelings of discomfort and anxiety as you chart new

territory or go beyond your comfort zones.

…

Perhaps the simple recognition of a situation or circumstance that is new or unknown to you can help

you to move into it with less anxiety. A practicum will often require you to go beyond your

previous experience and challenge you to learn.

…

HOW TO

WRITE A

PRACTICUM

REPORT

A practicum report is an explanation of what an individual did during a

practical experience and the outcomes of that experience.

…

They combine academic knowledge with applied experience in professional

settings, giving students the chance to work in areas such as formative

research or program implementation. A formal practicum report should include

several parts and usually requires several double-spaced, typed pages.

…

Create a title page, making sure the title briefly describes the nature of

the assignment. Type your name on the title page along with the

semester you plan to file the formal practicum report, and mention the college program for which you are

writing the report.

1.

Write a brief description of what the practicum report is about. This paragraph

should be about 150 words or less and basically serves as your summary, or abstract. Then, create a page for your

introduction. On this page, describe the nature of the practicum and the supervising

agency that provided you the opportunity to complete the practicum

2.

Explain the practical and theoretical value of the practicum experience. Compare what you did during your practicum to coursework you

did prior to the work experience. Describe what outcomes you expected and what results you actually achieved during this experience.

3.

Also, explain recommendations for future practicum improvements. In

addition, describe how your practicum experience influenced your professional or academic

goals. End the practicum report by providing summary statements that

recap the content of your report.

3. [CONTD.]

Attach a practicum agreement or job description as an appendix if these are

available. Include other attachments that are relevant to your practicum, such as any work you actually completed -- grants you wrote or reports/evaluations you produced. Also, include a bibliography of references citing any information you used for your report.

Read through the report for errors in spelling, grammar or punctuation.

4.

TROY UNIVERSITY: COUNSELING PROGRAMS PRACTICUM AND INTERNSHIP HANDBOOK.

EMORY ROLLINS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH: PRACTICUM HANDBOOK: A GUIDE FOR STUDENTS

THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS: COUNSELING PRACTICUM AND INTERNSHIP MANUAL

www.ehow.com/how-to-write-a-practicum-report

REFERENCES