Center on
Aging Studies
at the University of Missouri-Kansas City
A practica seminar has been instituted to provide a forum for gerontology and long term care administration studies in which they may
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Discuss and learn about career development |
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Apply theory and classroom work to practice |
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Share experience |
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Be exposed to community organizations, and |
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Review and evaluate their practica and gerontology classes |
Objectives
After participation in this seminar students will be able:
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To pose concerns or difficulties for peer input and solutions |
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To identify gerontological issues within student experiences |
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To report and share individual activities of practica |
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To discuss career issues |
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To develop skills in creating resumes, letters of reference, vitas, biosketches, and conference presentation preparation |
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To evaluate practica sites and preceptor/site supervisors |
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To participate in an exit interview encompassing the student's gerontological studies |
The seminar series will comprise bi-weekly sessions of two hour duration distributed over several months. Students will be strongly encouraged to attend these and receive three hours of credit for each session toward their 180 hours. Hence, after ten such sessions, as many as 30 hours will be credited toward their required 180 hours. Since 30 hours is approximately 17% of your grade, attendance will greatly enhance your grade. If students have finished their 180 hours of practica before the series are finished, they are still invited to attend.
Meetings will be scheduled to accommodate the work or personal schedules of current students and agencies. Seminars will be conducted twice a month from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM. Seminars will be held at the Center on Aging Studies first floor conference room when community agencies are not available. The seminar series will be offered once a year depending on a sufficient number of students enrolled in the practicum. The seminar may not coordinate within existing semester schedules.
Seminars will consist of a variety of didactic and experiential learning, as well as student interaction. Guest speakers will be invited to provide some of the content of the seminars. Activities during the classes will include:
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Peer review and comment on journals |
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Discussion of graduate paper topics |
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Strategies and trouble shooting discussions of concerns/activities of the practicum among the students and faculty |
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Identification and maximization of networking opportunities |
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Invited input and perspectives of practicum supervisors/preceptors |
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Career counseling, i.e., resume development, reference letter writing |
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Discussion of professional behavior in the workplace |
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Discussion and evaluation of practica sites |
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Participation in exit interviews of the gerontology program. |
If you are interested in the planning process, attending, or giving input, please do not hesitate to call Liz Kendall (816)235-2186.
