Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, New York

COLLEGE of LIBERAL ARTS
Department of School Psychology

COURSE: 

1.0       Title:  SECOND YEAR PRACTICUM EXPERIENCE – PRACTICUM IV

0527-715-01; Tuesday 4:00 PM – 5:50 PM;  06-A260
0527-715-02; Wednesday 4:00 PM – 5:50 PM;  12-3115

Credit Hours:          2
Prerequisite(s):       PRACTICUM I, II, III
Course taught by:   Charlotte A. Harvey, MS, CAS
                                 cahgal@rit.edu
                                 charlotte.harvey@gmail.com
                                 585-233-2316
                                 Meetings by appointment

2.0       Course information: 

Quarter(s) offered (check)
___X__ Fall    ____ Winter     ___ Spring    _____ Summer

Students required to take this course:
This course is only open to fully matriculated school psychology students who are required to take this course.

3.0       Goals of the course
The primary goal for the second year practicum sequence is to provide you with real-life hands-on experience working with culturally diverse students, teachers, and school personnel.  In the first year practicum experience you were provided with the opportunity to observe schools and school psychologists in action.   In contrast, the second year practicum sequence will provide you with the opportunity to practice a variety of school psychologist roles under close supervision. The specific learning goals will fall within the eight NASP domains of training (See Practicum Placement Plan) and will provide you with the fundamental building blocks for internship.

4.0       Course description
In the second year of practicum experience students will continue to participate in supervised field experiences in school settings along with integrative on-campus seminars.   In this second year three course sequence, trainees will advance from observational experiences to hands-on-experiences  These active learning activities will enable you to obtain first-hand knowledge and familiarity with schools as systems, the role and functioning of the school psychologist, collaborative problem solving, counseling, teaching process, consultation, and other relevant, professional and legal issues.  You will be expected to gain a better understanding and sensitivity to the diverse student populations that we have in the Greater Rochester Area.   Many of you this second year will be working with inner city youth of Rochester as well as with the special programs administered by BOCES personnel. 

Most of you for Practicum IV will be finishing off your second practicum placement experience.  Since you are familiar with the setting this last 10 weeks in the site is your opportunity to start taking initiative.  If possible try running a group this quarter and doing a full assessment, along with pre-referral interventions. Also a requirement for this quarter will be to become familiar with the Crisis Plan in your school.

You are expected to spend one full school day (6 hours) per week in your field placements (10 days).  These periods correspond with the RIT fall quarter.  If you are unable to attend on a scheduled day, you must notify the field placement supervisor in advance and schedule a make-up day. 

You are expected to attend weekly on campus seminars to discuss and share with your classmates your experiences in the field.

5.0          Resources

Brock, S., Sandoval, J., & Lewis, S. (2001). Preparing for crises in the schools. New
            York: John Wiley & Sons.

Best Practices in School Psychology (2002).  Alex Thomas, & Jeff Grimes (Eds).
            Bethesda, MD: National Association of School Psychologists

6.0       Topics for FALL QUARTER:

9/4 -5          Review of syllabus, journals, goals, timelines, field placements, needs assessment.                     Distribution of practicum agreements and evaluations.

9/11-12       Discussion  

9/18-19       Discussion
                   Due this week: practicum agreements and goals                               
                                     
9/25-26       Discussion
                         

10/9-10`      Discussion, read assigned chapters in Preparing for crisis in the schools
                                   
10/17           Sections together, guest speaker-Crisis Response Plans

1023-24       Discussion, critique of your school’s CRP due

11/2              All meet with third year students, Friday November 2nd to discuss internships,
                     resume writing etc.  Meeting time tentatively set for noon, Building 1, room 4287

11/6-7           Discussion
                                   
Due by Nov 13 evaluations, journals, logs, quarter summary

7.0       Intended learning outcomes and associated assessment methods
The intended learning outcomes are to develop skills in the eight domains of school psychology training and practice. 
These eight domains are:

• Enhancing the Development of Wellness, Social Skills, and Life Competencies
• Enhancing the Development of Cognitive and Academic Skills
• Systems-Based Service Delivery
• Data-Based Decision Making & Accountability
• Professional, Legal, Ethical, and Social Responsibility
• Technological Applications
• Diversity Awareness and Sensitive Service Delivery
• Interpersonal and Collaborative Skills

As outlined by the Practicum Placement Plan (see form) students are expected to continue to develop their skills in the eight domain areas.  Students are expected to self-monitor their progress in these eight domains.   
At the beginning of fall quarter please review last quarter’s progress in these domains as you develop your Practicum Placement Plan with your field supervisor for the fall quarter.  During the first or second meeting with your field supervisor, discuss and develop an outline of the activities in which you will be able to be involved and the goals which you will try to accomplish during the current quarter – based on your needs, expectations and on what your specific placement can provide.  Your plan will also serve as a starting point for your practicum performance evaluation at the end of the quarter.  You and your supervisor will review your progress on the plan.  Your supervisor will also review your performance as outlined in the evaluation form (see form).

A  separate  “work in progress” Practicum Placement Plan  will need to be developed for each Quarter (it is a part of your course grade for each quarter).   At the same time you should be keeping a ‘master‘Practicum Placement Plan of all the activities you have accomplished in all of your practicum placements.   The ‘master’ Practicum Placement Plan will help you in determining the areas of need and will be formally reviewed with the university based supervisor at the end of winter quarter.  

Each “work in progress” Practicum Placement Plan needs to be initialized by you and your field supervisor before you give it to the course instructor.   At the end of fall quarter you will again review your progress.  This review will help you plan your Practicum Placement Plan for your third and final placement.

Course Requirements:       

For the second year practicum experience you will write (type) weekly journal entries approximately 1 to 2 pages in length into mycourses.  The entries will need to be submitted on or before 5 PM the Monday of each week, beginning September 10th.  Take time to reflect and integrate the experience. Keeping a journal is the simplest way to record and comment upon your own learning. As the course progresses, pay particular attention to changes in your thinking and the implications of those changes. Reflect upon your understanding before, during, and after key experiences in the course and document how these understandings change.

You will need to keep a systematic log of activities while you are in your field placement. One complete school day per week for the duration of the current quarter needs to be accounted for.  Please keep a running log of your hours at your field placement, separate from your journal.  This log would include date, hours, activities, and supervisor’s initials.

CRISIS PLAN CRITIQUE

During the fall quarter, if possible, make a copy of your practicum placements crisis plan.   Read the assigned material (to be determined and provided) and engage in a discussion with our guest speaker then write a brief 2 page critique of the plan and discuss the plans pros and cons in class.

FIELD SUPERVISOR’S EVALUATION
At the end of the quarter your supervisor needs to fill out the evaluation form (see form).  You should then sit down and review your progress together. Please refer back to the Practicum Placement Plan to see that you have met your goals.

STUDENT’S EVALUATION OF SUPERVISOR
At the end of the placement ( for some of you that will be the end of fall quarter and spring quarter, for others that will be the end of winter and spring quarter) please fill out a student evaluation (see attached form) of your supervisor and the placement.

COURSE EVALUATION

1. Field Supervisor’s Evaluation                                                             45%
2. Journals                                                                                             15%
3. Class attendance and participation                                                      15%
4. Skills level/motivation/integration of practicum experiences                  10%
5. Practicum Plan                                                                                   10%
6. Crisis Plan                                                                                          5%