Center on
Aging Studies
at the University of Missouri-Kansas City
Registration
Students are requested to enroll in the Practicum, either the Undergraduate-Level 492 Field Practicum in Aging or the Graduate-Level 592 Field Practicum in Aging, for three hours of credit. The Practicum Coordinator must issue a consent number. Due to the work schedule of the student, supervisor, and the agency, completion of the 180 hours may be extended beyond the confines of a semester. While this is acceptable, all parties must be apprised of a revision of the timetable and aware that an “incomplete” will be registered on the student’s transcript until the hours are fulfilled and the log, paper, and supervisor’s evaluation are completed and submitted to the Practicum Coordinator.
Activities and Hours
The student is to fulfill a time commitment of 180 clock/contact hours. These should be spent in the varied activities of the Practicum site or required university assignments as established and negotiated among the Site Supervisor and the Practicum Coordinator and the student. The following guideline suggests the distribution of hours:
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60% hours in the agency or activities for the agency |
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10% hours in meetings, workshops, or networking opportunities |
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10% reading, viewing, video materials related to the agency |
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20% dedicated to paper or log preparation |
The student should apprise the Practicum Coordinator of the types and schedule of activities in the Program Plan and in ongoing communication through the Progress Notes form.
Journal or Log
Along with the Site Supervisor’s Written Performance Evaluations, focused paper (graduate-level only) and communication practices with the Practicum Coordinator, the journal or log constitutes another measure of performance. The practice of keeping a journal provides the chance to hone documentation skills (important to any job), demonstrate to one’s supervisor the judgment exercised within the assigned activities, and to show application of the student’s gerontological studies to real life.
These should contain the following:
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A record of the number of hours/times, and dates dedicated to all practicum-related activities. |
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An objective description of location, people, and activity in which the student is engaged. |
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Reflections of the value of the activity for the agency and for the student. |
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Identification of the gerontological issues that are apparent in the activity. |
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References to concepts, theories, research, interventions, resources, etc. which may be cited (APA form is not necessary), that demonstrate how the student’s class work, learning, reading, discussions, may be applied to and/or integrated into practice. |
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Content in narrative form with attention to grammar, spelling, and readability. |
Quality measures:
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Typewritten format |
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Narrative summarized observations and descriptions. |
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Personal reflections articulated clearly |
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Identification of gerontological issues in activities |
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Reference to class, readings, or discussions of gerontology classes |
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Attention to grammar, spelling, style of writing and clarity of format |
The more attention to grammar, spelling, style and liberal use of references and reflections will elevate the grade level. The student may submit early journal entries to the Practicum Coordinator for evaluation and suggestions for improvement. Journal entries may be submitted by e-mail. Student is encouraged to keep up with journal entries as the activity is performed.
Examples of exceptional log/journals may be reviewed through Liz Kendall at (816) 235-2186, Room 107 of the Center on Aging Studies.
Written Performance Evaluations
The evaluation form (see forms on web site or obtain from Practicum Coordinator) should be used twice within the course of the practicum. Midpoint in the completion of hours (at about 90 hours) the evaluation took should be completed, reviewed, and discussed by both the student and the Site Supervisor. This allows for student’s skill strengths and weaknesses to be evaluated, improved, and acknowledged by both. This information does not have to be reported at this point to the practicum Coordinator unless there are discrepancies which need to be addressed at the requests of either the Site Supervisor or the student.
At the completion of the 180 hours of the Practicum work, the Site Supervisor should complete the final performance evaluation (using the same tool). It is the student’s responsibility to submit this to the Practicum Coordinator who along with the Director of the Center on Aging Studies will evaluate the full performance of the student and issue a grade.
Planning Meetings and Ongoing Communication with Practicum Coordinator
Due to the non-traditional nature of our Gerontology Certificate students and the rigors of dedicating 180 hours to earn the field practicum credits, the experience often extends beyond and one semester. As a result, meetings and communication throughout the life of each practicum ensures that expectations, objectives, and evaluation will be fair and acknowledged. Hence, a portion of student’s grades will be comprised of the following;
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His/her participation in meetings called by the Practicum Coordinator |
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The use, timeliness, and quality of communication by the student throughout the Program Plan and the monthly Progress Reports. |
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Field Practicum Agreement submitted early in the practicum placement. |
Travel Policy
As with enrollment and registration for classes on campus, travel time is not credited within class requirements. Every effort will be made to place students in proximity to their work or residence. This convenience may not be possible when interests and opportunities from agencies are a priority. Hence, exceptions to the accounting of travel time as credit toward contact hours will occur only in very rare circumstances on a case-by-case basis and with notice and negotiations occurring as early in the field experience as possible. This situation is similar to a work obligation (the practicum may serve as an initiation to a career) in which travel is not compensated or credited unless contracted or in extraordinary circumstance.
Grading Measurements
Grading will be based on the following:
| Site Supervisor Evaluation 40% |
| Journal 40% |
| Planning, communication, meetings 20% |
GRADUATE LEVEL ONLY
Common Elements as in Above Undergraduate Requirements
| Same number of hours – 180 | ||||
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Same journal
requirements
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| Same communication requirement and forms used: Field Practicum Agreement, Program Plan, Monthly Progress Notes, Written Evaluation Performance | ||||
| Same Written Performance Evaluation process | ||||
| Same allocation or distribution of time vested in Practicum activities |
Differences from Undergraduate Requirements
| Practicum opportunities for research, teaching, literature reviews, and more sophisticated placements may occur with higher education level and experiences of student | ||||||||
| More rigorous evaluations of all activities, journals, papers, and performance evaluations due to the higher background level | ||||||||
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Grades are based on
the following:
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Focused Paper
Paper focus should be discussed with Practicum Coordinator and Site Supervisor. When possible the project should be of some assistance or provide some helpful information or service to the agency. The focus should be related to the placement, for example, in reference to the agency’s mission, target audience, disciplines involved, etc. Paper focus and format intentions will be articulated in the Program Plan submitted to Practicum Coordinator and approved within the first month of the Practicum. Any major change in its format or subject should be discussed with the Practicum Supervisor and approved at least one month prior to the paper’s submission. Initial notification may be done through a Progress Report. However, the student must verify approval of the change with the Practicum Coordinator.
Papers will undoubtedly be quite diverse in nature, depending upon the student’s interests and abilities and the agency’s needs and opportunities. Examples of past paper topics have included a comprehensive grant proposal, development of a survey instrument, feasibility study for adult day services, music therapy, art therapy, etc. The Practicum Coordinator and Director of the Center on Aging Studies will review and evaluate the paper. After paper, journal, and written Performance Evaluation have been reviewed and graded, a grade will be issued. At this time the “I,” Incomplete, will be changed to a grade if the practicum time has been extended beyond one semester.
Papers should include the following:
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Literature review in narrative form which describes or justifies the focus |
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Demonstration of relevance or relationship of the focus to the Practicum placement |
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Description of previous research or study of the area |
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If a survey is used, a description of it validity or previous use and rationale for its method of design should be included |
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If the agency has specific requests or requirements for a project, these should be acknowledged |
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Attention to grammar, spelling, and style. |
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Citations and paper should follow APA style found in Publications Manual of the American Psychological Association (Fifth edition) |
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For focused area, paper should include literature review, relevant Practicum observations or experience, some comparison to national data or norms in the field, and student conclusions. |
Excellence speaks to quality and substance, beyond the quantity of words and activities. Excellence is demonstrated by the clear articulation of a deep understanding of the relationship of the Practicum and application of principles, concepts and theory to the population of older adults.
Excellence is measured by:
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Extensive citation of relevant literature |
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Clear rationale for methods and focus |
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Creativity in approach to area of study and presentation |
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Thorough explanation of area of study |
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Depth of student’s analysis and conclusions |
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Consistency and accuracy of APA style of citation |
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Excellence in grammar, spelling and writing style |
Examples of exceptional logs and papers are available for review through Liz Kendall, (816) 235-2186, Room 107 of the Center on Aging Studies.
