ALTERNATIVE
PRACTICUM
PLACEMENTS
Year 4 Concurrent Education
Brantford Campus
WHAT IS AN ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT?
An opportunity to:
Use teaching skills in non-traditional teaching
contexts including private schools
Explore other employment options where teaching
skills are an advantage
Network and make community contacts that may
lead to future employment outside the classroom.
Offer services to the community
Alternative Practicum Overview
Takes place in year four to earn credit in the EDUC 4686/4696
course; 120 hours need to be completed in a successful
practicum
Practicum can take place on any day of the week – students can
now take WLU classes on a Monday if they choose
Practicum is Self-selected and arranged by the student
Approved and supported by the Practicum Advisory Committee
Total of 120 hours can be accumulated over time period
Alternative Practicum Placements may begin as soon as May
2013
COURSE CREDIT REQUIREMENTS
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An alternative Practicum is a requirement of the Observation and
Practice Teaching Course, EDUC 4686(PJ), 4696(JI).
Teacher Candidates must register for the course in the same way as all
other courses. The last day to add full year courses is approx.
September 25. (check course calendar for revised dates for 2013/2014)
Failure to complete the practicum as outlined in the Alternative
Practicum Handbook will result in a course failure.
The following documentation must be approved and submitted to the
Practicum Office:
1.
Alternative Practicum Placement Application
2. Work/Education Placement Agreement
3.
Alternative Practicum Placement Timesheet(s)
4. Alternative Practicum Evaluation Report
Completed timesheets and final evaluation must be received by May 31,
2014
Once appropriate forms have been completed and received, credit
allocation for this course will be received for the 2013/2014 year
COURSE CREDIT-DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS
Practicum Placement applications may be submitted for approval between
April 2013 and September 2013.
NOTE: You must allow three weeks for the approval process.
Alternative Practicum
Placement Applications
Timelines
All forms to be submitted to the
Practicum Office
1.
Alternative Practicum
Placement Application
April 2013 – September 2013
2.
Work/Education
Placement Agreement
Due at the commencement of
the placement
3.
Alternative Practicum
Placement Timesheet(s)
Submit by May 31, 2014
Alternative Practicum
Evaluation Report
Submit by May 31, 2014
4.
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.
Teacher Candidates who fail to submit an Alternative Placement
application will receive a registered letter in January 2014, which will
outline the procedure to be followed if an application is not
received.
If any of the application, timesheets and final evaluation are not
submitted by due dates a mark of “F” will be entered into
Webadvisor transcripts.
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 or no
later than May 31, 2014
SAM STOUFFER –
YEAR 4 2011-2012
Alternative Placement was completed at:
Paris Curling Club
Position:
Junior Program Coordinator
Board of Directors
•Responsibilities
include:
Little Rockers and Juniors Sunday Program
Field Trip Friday Program
4H Brant Curling
Board Member
CARLY DAVIS
YEAR 4 2012-2013
Alternative Placement was completed at:
- Virtual Elementary School
- Placement was completed online
Position: Editing and Exemplar Creation
Responsibilities:
Writing rubrics for science and math curriculum
Completing a level 4 exemplar for every assignment
Benefits:
Having an online practicum works well with school schedule
Online education is a growing field
Gained experience in writing rubrics for successful evaluation
Lot of fun completing science experiments like building towers and
bridges!Gain lots of ideas for future teaching.
FINDING A PLACEMENT?
Criteria:
o Significant connection to human development and service
o Teaching skills may be applied
o Total of 120 hours within the time period from May 2013 - May 2014
o Location must appear to be healthy and safe
o Volunteer, not paid employment
o In Ontario, but outside of a publicly funded school board
o Supervisor is not immediate family or peer in the program
o International placement is only Nipissing sponsored
o Not more than two (2) Teacher Candidates with the same
supervisor
Resources for Finding
Alternative Placements
Laurier Career services CIOC,
(http://www.wlu.ca/page.php?grp_id=2083&p=15780)
Brantford campus website for potential placements:
(http://www.nipissingu.ca/departments/brantford/practicum/Pa
ges/Alternative-Placements.aspx)
Community sources
Overall summary
1. Use the official letter to inform potential Supervisor and
determine feasibility of a placement
2. Complete and submit the Alternative application to
Practicum Office for approval, as per timelines outlined in
the Handbook
3. After approval is received, provide Handbook to supervisor
4. Complete 120 hours in the Alternative Placement
5. Collaborate in evaluation and submit copy with signed
timesheet to the Practicum Office
International Alternative Practicum
•Planned for May 2014
•Plan is to offer Kenya and Italy subject to budget
approvals and student interest
•Accompanied by Faculty Supervisor
•Apply in September 2013; approved in October 2013
•Approximate costs:
Italy - $4000
Kenya - $5000
Questions??
Contact Associate Dean:
mariac@nipissingu.ca
Or
Practicum Officer:
deanneo@nipissingu.ca
Or
Practicum Office at
brant@nipissingu.ca