YEAR 2 INFORMATION SESSION
Planning for 2014 - 2015
AGENDA
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Course Registration
•
Alternative Placement Changes
COURSE REGISTRATION
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•
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Registration will open June 2, 2014
Register in your Education (Nipissing)
courses first
Plan WLU schedule around NU
Register for Observation & Practice
Teaching
ALTERNATIVE PRACTICUM PLACEMENTS
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Changes for 2014-2015
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Alternative Placement in Year 3
RATIONALE – WHY THE CHANGE?

Greater continuity in placement blocks in upper years

Practicum will now take place in publically funded
schools in years 4 & 5, as arranged by the Practicum
Office

International Placements can take place in either Year 3
or Year 4
WHAT IS AN ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT?
An opportunity to:
•
Use teaching and transferable skills in nontraditional teaching environments, including
private schools
•
Explore alternative employment options where
teaching skills are an asset
•
Network and make community contacts that may
lead to future employment outside the classroom
•
Offer services to the community
Alternative Practicum Overview
 Observation and Practice Teaching course EDUC
4686/4696
 120 volunteer hours required to fulfill credit requirements
 Alternative practicum hours can be completed on any day
of the week
 Alternative practicum is self-selected and arranged by the
student
 Must be approved and supported by the Practicum
Advisory Committee before the placement may begin
 Alternative Practicum Placements may begin as early as
May 2014
COURSE CREDIT REQUIREMENTS
An alternative practicum is a requirement of the
Observation and Practice Teaching Course
 Teacher Candidates must register for the Observation and
Practice Teaching course on Web Advisor
 Failure to complete the alternative practicum as outlined in
the Alternative Practicum Handbook will result in a course
failure
 Once signed volunteer hours and final evaluation are
received, transcripts will be updated in May 2015

DOCUMENTS & TIMELINES
Timelines
All forms to be submitted to the
Practicum Office
1.
Application
May 1 - September 30, 2014
2.
Timesheet(s)
Submit by May 31, 2015
3.
Evaluation
Submit by May 31, 2015
Alternative Practicum
Placement Applications
Practicum Placement applications may
be submitted for approval between
April 2014 and September 2014.
NOTE: You must allow three weeks for the approval process and the
placement cannot begin until approved
Failure to Submit an
Alternative Placement Application
• In order to graduate from the Concurrent Education program, Teacher
Candidates must fulfill all degree requirements
• Detailed Degree Requirements can be found in the Academic Calendar
• If any of the application, timesheets or final evaluation are not submitted
by the dates outlined a mark of “F” will be entered for transcript
purposes.
*** Alternative Placements will be cancelled if an
application is not received between
May 1 and September 31, 2014
Evaluation of the Alternative
Practicum Placement
• There is one final evaluation, but it is desirable to review
the evaluation form and the expectations at the beginning
and middle of the placement with the Supervisor
• Students are to maintain a time sheet and submit it at the
completion of the placement with Supervisor signature
• The timesheet and evaluation form are due to the
Practicum Office one week after the completion of the
placement but no later than May 31, 2015
FINDING A PLACEMENT?
http://www.nipissingu.ca/departments/brantford/practicum/general-info/Pages/Alternative-Placements.aspx
Criteria:
• Significant connection to human development and service
• Teaching skills may be applied
• Total of 120 volunteer hours in one placement within the time period from May 2014 May 2015. Two placements cannot be combined to provide 120 hours
• Location must appear to be healthy and safe
• Volunteer, not paid employment
• In Ontario, but outside of a publicly funded school board
• Supervisor is not immediate family, or peer in the program, or a parent of a child
involved in the placement
• International placement is only Nipissing sponsored
• Not more than two (2) Teacher Candidates with the same supervisor per year
Overall Summary
1. Pickup an Alternative Placement Teacher
Candidate/Supervisor handbook from the practicum office
the week of March 25, 2014
2. Use the official letter to inform potential Supervisor to
determine the feasibility of a placement
3. Complete and submit an Alternative Practicum placement
application to Practicum Office for approval, NO LATER
THAN SEPTEMBER 30, 2014
4. After approval is received, provide Alternative Placement
Handbook to supervisor and placement may begin
5. Complete 120 volunteer hours in the Alternative Placement
setting
6. Collaborate in completing the final evaluation and submit
the original with the signed timesheet(s) to the Practicum
Office, NO LATER THAN MAY 31, 2015
EXAMPLES OF PRIOR ALTERNATIVE
PLACEMENTS COMPLETED
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Paris Curling Club
Online School
Mentor School - (private high school)
The Literacy Group
WLU – Athletics, Learning Services, Career Development
The NU website has a number of opportunities:
http://www.nipissingu.ca/departments/brantford/practicum/general
-info/Pages/Alternative-Placements.aspx
Alternative Practicum Placement
International
HTTP://WWW.NIPISSINGU.CA/DEPARTMENTS/INTERNATIONAL/EDUCATION-ABROAD/BEDINTERNATIONAL-PRACTICA/PAGES/BRANTFORD-CAMPUS.ASPX
• Planned for May 2015
• Destinations:
Kenya and Italy
subject to budget approvals and student interest
• Accompanied by Faculty Facilitator
• Apply by September 2014; approved in October 2014
• Approximate costs:
Italy - $4000
Kenya - $5000
Teacher Candidates in Year 3 for 2014-2015 will be allowed to
complete an International Placement in either
Year 3 or Year 4 of their program
Questions??
Contact Associate Dean:
barbarao@nipissingu.ca
Or
International Office
karens@nipissingu.ca
Or
Practicum Officer:
deanneo@nipissingu.ca