THE COURSE IS AIMED AT PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THEIR WORK OR INDUSTRIAL ATTACHMENT. WHEN ONE FAILS TO PLAN, FAILURE IS INEVITABLE. THERE WILL BE AN INCREASED OUTPUT IN EFFORTS AND PRODUCTIVITY OF STUDENTS ON THEIR PRACTICUM WHEN THEY ALREADY HAVE A HINT ON WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE WORK PLACE.

1. Dr. Henry Sawyerr/ Ms. Yetunde Olulegan.
CMH 204:
PRACTICUM AND CLINICAL
FIELD ATTACHMENT [I]

2. 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.
…

3. …
CHM 204: PRACTICUM AND
CLINICAL FIELD ATTACHMENT
SHOULD PROVIDE:

4. DEFINITION OF TERMS

5. SKILLS TO ACQUIRE DURING
WORK ATTACHMENTS

6. WORK ETIQUETTE

7. SKILLS FOR HANDLING
DIFFICULT SITUATIONS

8. CASE SCENARIOS

9. DAY 1
…

10. “Happiness doesn't
result from what
we get, but from
what we give.” ―
Ben Carson
…

11. “You give but little
when you give of your
possessions. It is when
you give of yourself
that you truly give.”
― Kahlil Gibran
…

12. 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

13. During the practicum,
introspection, personal
change, professional growth,
and self-assessment will
empower your sense of
development as a
professional.
DEFINITION OF TERMS

14. 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

15. A practicum is an
exciting opportunity to
learn and gain "real
world" experience in
the field.
DEFINITION OF TERMS

16. 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

17. 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

18. Practicums (student practicals/
experiments/ community
development projects) are
common for improving
education and social
work majors. It is also
called work placement.

19. HOW TO SELECT A
PRACTICUM
SITE

20. …

21. 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

22. What community of
people do I want to
work with?
PRACTICUM SITE CHOICES

23. What population
have I never
worked with?
PRACTICUM SITE CHOICES

24. What kind of
skills do I want
to develop?
PRACTICUM SITE CHOICES

25. What
knowledge am I
trying to gain?
PRACTICUM SITE CHOICES

26. 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

27. CRITERIA FOR FINDING
YOUR OWN
PRACTICUM
SITE.

28. THE SELECTED SITE
MUST:

29. Present an opportunity
to work with or for
people with disabling
conditions and /or
chronic health concerns
THE SELECTED SITE
MUST:

30. Pose learning
opportunities
within an
educational context
THE SELECTED SITE
MUST:

31. Challenge you
with new
learning skills
THE SELECTED SITE
MUST:

32. Facilitate assignments
and responsibilities
consistent with the
course of enrolment
THE SELECTED SITE
MUST:

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

34. Proposed Activities: this is
what you will be doing
while at your practicum
site, this includes your
role and responsibilities.
…

35. Student Goals - skill
development: this is what
skills you are looking to
improve or develop during
your time at the practicum
site.
…

36. "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.
…

37. "Professional Development"
goals could be worked on
within any practicum site
whereas "Skill Development"
goals are site and content
specific.
…

38. 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.
…

39. RESPONSIBILITIES
OF A
PRACTICUM
STUDENT

40. 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.
…

41. 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.
…

42. 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.
…

43. 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:
…

44. 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:

45. 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:

46. 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

47. 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:

48. 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

49. There are four steps
in the process of
establishing
companionship.
…

50. 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:

51. 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

52. 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

53. 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

54. 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

55. Expectations of
the student within
the practicum
setting:
…

56. Respecting policies
and procedures of
the agency/
Establishment or
organization.
EXPECTATIONS

57. Maintaining
attendance and
punctuality.
EXPECTATIONS

58. Informing the site
facilitator/ Practicum
Instructor of all
expected absences.
EXPECTATIONS

59. Interacting
respectfully with all
supervisors and
colleagues.
EXPECTATIONS

60. Seeking and accepting
feedback from
Practicum Course
Instructor/ Coordinator.
EXPECTATIONS

61. Exerting maximum
effort in completing
tasks and
assignments.
EXPECTATIONS

62. Asking questions
whenever unsure of any
and all policies,
procedures, assignment
guidelines, and
expectations.
EXPECTATIONS

63. Understanding
your level of
competence.
EXPECTATIONS

64. Upholding a level of
professionalism in attire,
language, attitude and
respecting all matters of the
agency/ organization or
establishment as confidential.
EXPECTATIONS

65. 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

66. 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

67. Rewards may be
professional, personal or
both. Personal rewards
include skill development,
greater awareness of likes
and dislikes and more.
REWARDS OF PRACTICUM
EXPERIENCES

68. 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.
…

69. 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.
…

70. 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.
…

71. 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!
…

72. 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.
…

73. 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.
…

74. HOW TO
WRITE A
PRACTICUM
REPORT

75. A practicum report is an
explanation of what an
individual did during a
practical experience and the
outcomes of that experience.
…

76. 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.
…

77. 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.

78. 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.

79. 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.

80. 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.]

81. 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.

82.  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