Units

---

Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Psychologists practicing within the area of Educational and Developmental psychology are employed in a broad range of settings. Consequently, training in educational and developmental psychology must include the development and application of skills in a number of areas. Practicum 2 provides you with the opportunity to practice within an educational setting and work with school students and communities, specifically the Caroline Chisholm Centre, Psychology and Counselling Clinic, 44 Musk Ave, Kelvin Grove.

Aims

The aim of Practicum 2 is to provide you with supervised experience in applying diagnostic, assessment and intervention skills in educational settings. This unit will also develop your written and oral communication skills and provide you with practice in using these skills to communicate results of assessments and recommendations for interventions to school staff, parents and other stakeholders.

Objectives

At the successful completion of this unit, you should be able to:
1. demonstrate skills in problem identification and hypothesis generation in an educational setting;
2. display skills in test evaluation and selection in educational settings as well as demonstrate competence in the administration and interpretation of test results of a variety of standardised educational assessment instruments;
3. display skills in identifying appropriate intervention strategies and monitoring their effectiveness as well as demonstrate knowledge of resources available to educational facilities;
4. show competence in oral and written communication and professional conduct in: meeting placement requirements; punctuality and organisational skills; and management of professional activities in an educational setting. Including the ability to demonstrate skills in report writing and communicating the results of assessments and details of interventions in oral and written formats to school personnel and parents/guardians;
5. demonstrate the development of a practice framework including competence in ethical, legal and professional matters especially related to knowledge of and adherence to the APS Code of Ethics and procedures within educational settings.

PROFESSIONAL ATTRIBUTES
Successful completion of this unit will enable you to meet the Psychology Board of Australia requirement for basic competence in:

1. knowledge of the discipline within an applied setting; (Objectives 1, 2, & 3)
2. the application of psychological assessment procedures; (Objectives 1&2)
3. intervention strategies with a range of clients; (Objectives 3 & 4)
4. written and oral communication skills; (Objectives 4) and,
5. ethical, legal and professional matters. (Objectives 5)

GRADUATE CAPABILITIES
Successful completion of this unit will contribute to your ability to:

1. think analytically, critically and reflexively within an educational and developmental psychology context; (Objectives 1,2,3, & 5)
2. apply theoretical knowledge and research findings to practical problems; (Objectives 3 & 4)
3. relate data collection to assessment and intervention; (Objectives 1, 2 & 5)
4. engage in reflective enquiry and independent thinking; (Objectives 1- 5)
5. engage in effective oral and written communications; (Objectives 4) and,
6. develop an awareness of your personal and professional limitations. (Objectives 5)

Content

Supervised Practicum 2 consists of 250 hours (excluding supervision time) of psychological practice working both within schools and through the clinic at the Caroline Chisholm Centre, Psychology and Counselling Clinic, 44 Musk Ave, Kelvin Grove. The 250 hours must include a minimum of 95 hours of direct client contact. For the Board the minimum requirement of supervision hours is 25 hours (min 15 hours individual and max 10 hours group). The APS College of Educational and Developmental Psychologists requires one hour of supervision (of which 50% must be individual) per day of practice, which generally equates to 11 hours more than the 25 hours specified by the Board. You must allocate sufficient time for undertaking this supervised practicum (approximately two days per week).

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Teaching will be conducted in day long seminars (a maximum of 8). While content and process will be adapted to meet the needs of students, teaching and learning approaches will include presentations by the unit coordinator, guests and students, group discussions and feedback, seminars, observations, research, information sessions and demonstrations.

Assessment

Assessment is due at the end of the placement and will consist of formative and summative tasks. To undertake the practicum students will need to have probationary registration with the Psychology Board of Australia and be in possession of a current Blue Card that has been authorised with QUT.

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Formative assessment is ongoing and will be provided through regular contact with the supervisor at the Caroline Chisholm Centre, Psychology and Counselling Clinic, 44 Musk Ave, Kelvin Grove. The following will be included:

a. log book containing hours of psychological practice, client contact and supervision;
b. involvement in group learning activities; and,
c. case presentations and discussions.
d. submission of a minimum of 8 entries from the Interns' reflective journal. Five of these must be sighted and signed by the individual supervisor and 3 by the Internship Director. These entries should demonstrate adequate self-reflection on the learning process and the development of a personal framework for practice.

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
You will be required to submit a portfolio. The specific contents of the portfolio will be dependent on your placement agreement but will include the following:

- a copy of your up to date Supervised Practice Plan;
- one case study;
- examples of a psychological report, intervention plans, counselling/intervention summaries and psychiometric assessment;
- a record of supervision sessions;
- a record of placement activities and hours;
- a mid and end of placement review;
- your self-evaluation;
- placement evaluation report and supervisor evaluation;
- a record of sign-off on a minimum of 8 Reflective Journal entries.


All work submitted must be de-identified

The portfolio must be submitted within two weeks from week 13 of the enrolled semester and will be assessed on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. You cannot commence your next supervised practicum until you have passed both your folio and end of practicum review for the current placement.

Assessment name: Portfolio (Folio 2)
Description: The portfolio will be dependent on your placement agreement but will include the following:

• a copy of the student's up to date Supervised Practice Plan with amendments attached (e.g. SPA-1, Ai Supervisor forms);


• one case study based on a client from EDN 632 (max 12 pages, double-spaced)


• copies of de-identified psychological report, intervention plan and counselling summaries and psychometric assessment;


• a record of supervision sessions;


• a record of placement activities and hours;


• a mid and end of placement review;


• your self-evaluation;


• supervisor evaluation;


• a record of sign-off on a minimum of 8 Reflective
  Journal entries.

All work submitted must be de-identified

The folio must be submitted to the practicum coordinator within one week of completing the practicum and no later than the end of the enrolled semester and will be assessed on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. You cannot commence your next supervised practicum until you have passed both your folio; end of practicum review for the current placement and MSAT exam (referred to below).
Relates to objectives: 1 -5
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: TBA

Assessment name: Examination (Oral) MSAT
Description: In order to pass the unit, you need to pass the comprehensive oral examination known as the Multi -Station Assessment Test (MSAT) which is held in the latter half of November. The purpose of the assessment is to ensure that you have the skills needed to undertake the externships.
The Multi-Station Assessment Task is a comprehensive oral exam designed to tap into the basic competencies defined by the Psychologists Board of Queensland (or Psychology Board of Australia from 1 July 2010). These are: 1. Knowledge of the discipline; 2. Psychological assessment; 3. Intervention strategies; 4. Research and evaluation; 5. Communication; and 6. Ethical, legal and professional matters.
The stations assess knowledge and skills relating to the following competencies:
1. Ethical and professional issues
2. Assessment and management of acute situations (e.g. suicidality/violence/ self-harm)
3. Psychopathology and case formulations
4. Formal Clinical Psychological Assessment (Psychological testing) covering educational/ intellectual/personality assessment and formulation
5. Intervention strategies (process, formulation and treatment)
6. Research, Teaching and Evaluation (evidence-based practice)
Criteria

• If one station (section) is failed, you can re-sit that section after remediation


• If two stations (sections) are failed, you can re-sit those two sections after remediation


• If three stations are failed, you will be required to re-do the placement and re-sit the entire MSAT thereafter.

Students who fail 3 or more components of the MSAT will be required to repeat the Internship.
All criteria are assessed on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.
The exam will take place in the examination period.
Relates to objectives: 1 -5
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Exam Period

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Recommended Text
Teybar, E., (2006). Interpersonal process in therapy: An intergrative model (5^th ed.).Student Workbook.
In addition, you are encouraged to examine a number of assessment manuals, read a wide array of relevant research papers and professional documents, and examine a number of prepared intervention programmes.

Risk assessment statement

When conducting case studies or assessments, you must obtain informed consent from your participants and, in the case of children, from their parents as well. It is a requirement that identifying details, such as names, are concealed in your folio or any assignments submitted for course work. You should consult with your supervisor or the course coordinator if ethical issues arise.

Blue Card Requirement - Before undertaking any practicum units involving contact with young children you will be required to hold a Blue Card issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian. As soon as you enter your enrolment program for the course, you must submit your Blue Card application to the QUT Student Centre immediately.

If you do not apply for a Blue Card immediately upon enrolment in the course and allow sufficient time for the police check and issuing of the Card, you will be unable to participate in the required activities and may need to be withdrawn from the unit and incur both financial and academic penalty. It may take up to 12 weeks for the Commission to issue the Card. The application form and further details is available at

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 31-Oct-2012