Practicum 2

Module outline

The purpose of this unit is to consolidate personal, workplace and professional skills previously gained through workplace experience in Practicum 1 and to integrate and apply new theory and skills in an appropriate workplace setting under minimal supervision. Students are guided to develop and carry out a research project based on observations in the workplace setting in order to develop their analytical, synthesising and evaluative skills.

In Practicum 2, the student is guided to strengthen and further develop the skills observed and practised in Practicum 1 and to continue to integrate this knowledge and these competencies into their professional practice. Under minimal supervision, students also practice a range of skills and apply the theories relevant to their particular program of study. Students are guided to reinforce their professional identity; to engage in critical self-reflection to monitor their workplace behaviour and identity effectively, and to address those areas of their practice that require further skill and/or knowledge development. Students learn and have the opportunity to practice the skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation by way of a structured and supported research project based on workplace observations.

Learning outcomes

• Continue to demonstrate in a workplace setting those skills and attributes demonstrated in Practicum 1
• Develop a portfolio to demonstrate workplace application of specialisation skills under minimal supervision
• Integrate their workplace observations with other learning (skills and theories) by formulating a research proposal
• Search the literature for relevant articles and texts to support their research proposal
• Combine research proposal, literature references, data collected and analysis of that data into a research report

Content areas

Practicum 2 is undertaken over a six-month or two-term period of time. The student participates in fortnightly group supervision sessions conducted on campus or through discussion board activities in flexible delivery modes of learning.

• Review of learning contracts, personal attributes, workplace skills, professional skills and portfolio development<
• Review of skills relevant to area of specialisation, and developing a proposal for research based on observations
• Literature searching skills, introduction to research methodology, portfolio session, and review of project proposals and forward planning

During the second 12 weeks of the Practicum, the following topics are covered:

• Collection instruments for research by observation
• Analysing research data, and writing skills for research projects
• Troubleshooting session
• Evaluation of placement and practicum experiences

Practicum duration and workload:
Practicum 2 involves a total of 270 hours of study with a Credit Point Rating of 18 cps. Total duration and workload includes 200 hours of supervised practicum experience in a placement context, 36 hours of group and/or individual supervision and 34 hours of self-directed study, reading, research and assessment-related activities.