Internship Handbook
Towson University
School Psychology Program
Student Internship Syllabus
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~Academic Year 2005-2006
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Internship Handbook
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Psychology 794
Internship in School Psychology
Academic Year 2005 - 2006
Professor: Bruce P. Mortenson, Ph.D.
Phone:
(410) 704-3204
Office: Psychology Room 114
Email: bmortens@towson.edu
Purpose
The primary purpose of the internship seminar is to assist in the final preparation of
school psychology interns for entry into the field by focusing on adaptive and professional
competence. The internship seminar will include topics and activities dedicated to
interdisciplinary professional practices that have been demonstrated as effective and
socially valid. The internship seminar is built on the premise that ethical practice is the
only acceptable approach to training and service delivery.
Texts:
Thomas, A., & Grimes, J. (2002). Best practices in school psychology IV.
Washington, DC: National Association of School Psychologists
______________________________________________________________________
Course Objectives:
I:
To facilitate orientation to data-based decision making and accountability
II:
To develop skills in consultation and collaboration
III:
To strengthen skills in developing, implementing, and measuring the effect of
social/emotional or behavioral intervention plans
IV
To understand student diversity in development and learning
V.
To understand influences of school organization, policy development and climate
VI.
To demonstrate skills in prevention, crisis intervention and mental health services
VII.
To strengthen skills to promote programs that support school, family, and/or
community partnerships.
VIII.
To demonstrate skills in research and program evaluation.
IX.
To facilitate an understanding of school psychology practice and information
technology in the classroom.
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Internship Seminar Requirements:
(Requirements apply to all students unless otherwise indicated)
1.
Attend Seminar Meetings
a. Students within 60 miles of campus are expected to attend all biweekly
meetings.
b. Second year, part-time students are expected to attend the first meeting of
each month.
2.
Internship Plan: Due by second meeting
a. Each student must develop and maintain an internship plan throughout the
internship year. Internship plans are developed under the supervision of
the university internship coordinator, the student and the primary field
supervisors. Review the Towson University Internship Handbook for
further details.
3.
Internship Daily Log: Due monthly
a. The Internship Daily Log is to be maintained for all professional activities.
b. Daily logs are submitted to the internship coordinator during the first
seminar meeting of the month.
c. Daily logs must have the cover sheet with the signature of the primary
supervisors. Review the Towson University Internship Handbook for
further details.
d. Graphic representation of all intern activities attached to daily log at the
end of each semester.
4.
Development of demonstration of systems-based intervention: Due Dec. 2005
a. Students will draft a systems analysis of one target school
b. Students will attend to four outlined systems under the heading of
Characteristics of an Operating School District (BP p. 240)
c. Students will address the variables listed on page 241 in Figure 1 as they
pertain to their target school
5.
Development of a needs assessment: Due December 2005
a. Students will prepare and submit a needs assessment
b. Students will either interview two key representatives or hold one focus
group during the development of the needs assessment.
c. Students will present their needs assessment and intervention strategy to
peers during seminar.
6.
Develop and Implement a strategic action plan: Due April 2006
a. Students will implement a collaborative problem-solving plan based on the
data collected
b. Students will organize all decisions related to the plan around data
collection methods.
c. Students will compose case study with graphic representation of change
d. Students will present outcome data to either school personnel or peers.
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7.
Mentoring: Monthly
a. Each intern will be paired up with a first year student enrolled in Psyc. 620.
Interns will work with that student during the scheduled IQ labs in the
Spring semester. Interns will provide feedback to instructor to form basis
for lab grade for the first year student.
8.
Submission of Psychological Evaluation Report (Full-time or first-year parttime students)
a. Interns will submit one full evaluation report by December 6, 2005
9.
Collection and Maintenance of relevant literature
a. During each seminar meeting, one student will review an empirical article,
literature review or position paper on topic relevant to the seminar.
b. The article must be selected from a professional journal or series
c. The article should be summarized (typed) for dissemination to peers.
10.
Pass Praxis examination.
Evaluation of Internship:
The primary field supervisor for each intern will complete semester evaluations. The university
will send a midyear assessment of student functioning to the primary supervisor for each
intern. Supervisors may elect to copy this document for any secondary supervisors. At
the end of the academic year, primary supervisors will be asked to complete an
assessment of student competencies (see handbook). Interns will be asked to complete
an assessment of the site and an assessment of their supervisors’ skills over the course
of the year. For programmatic purposes, the intern will complete a Student Internship
Self-Assessment at the beginning and the end of the internship period.
Two site contacts will be conducted by the university internship coordinator, at which time the
intern, field supervisor(s) and University internship coordinators and interns will discuss
the intern’s strengths and needs. A second site-visit will be conducted in the spring and
will serve as a skills review for the intern (see above). In the event that on-site
supervision is not possible, university and site-based supervisors will make alternate
arrangements for the dissemination of the intern’s performance.
Assigning final grades for the internship are the responsibility of the University supervisor,
although information obtained from field supervisor(s) will be a critical component. Final
grades will also be based upon satisfactory completion of items outlined above. Interns
who show up late to seminar or do not submit required documents on time might earn a
lower grade due to lack of attention to details.