Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

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

Rationale

As well as developing a sound knowledge base, studying school guidance and counselling needs you to develop the skills to apply this knowledge in the practical setting of a school. In the Practicum, you will be given the opportunity to observe, participate in and critically evaluate a range of practice activities.

Designated Unit
This is a designated unit. Designated units are field experience units deemed to be critical to progress in your course. At the end of each semester, if you fail to achieve a satisfactory level of performance in a designated unit you may be eligible for a period of probation or exclusion.

Aims

The aim of this practicum unit is to provide you with professional knowledge and skills in the practice of school guidance and counselling and an awareness of ethical guidelines. You will also develop a high standard of professional conduct in the school setting and 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

On completion of this unit you should be able to:

1. articulate and demonstrate a basic level of knowledge of behavioural, developmental and intellectual assessments and interventions; (GC: A)
2. apply skills in problem identification and hypothesis generation; (GC: B)
3. apply high level skills in the collection of data including the use of micro counselling skills and rapport development; the conduct of semi-structured interviews and relevant history taking; (GC: C)
4. critically analyse and evaluate tests within applied settings; (GC: B,E)
5. interprete assessment results and report writing; (GC: A,B,C)
6. design, implement and evaluate educational and developmental interventions; (GC: A,B,C,D,F)
7. show evidence of a developing practice framework; (GC A,B,C,D,G) and,
8. model ethical, legal and professional codes and, procedures in school guidance and counselling practice. (GC: F)

Content

This unit covers a practicum consisting of 200 hours of school guidance and counselling practice. Students are expected to organise their own practicum in consultation with the course co-ordinator.

Your 200 hours may be undertaken in any approved setting (which may be in a school or community agency such as Lifeline, refugee homework centres etc). One hundred hours must be undertaken within a school setting, usually in a primary school, a high school and special education facilities. The unit co-ordinator will provide supervision of your practice. Up to 30 hours of professional development workshops or training may be included (with supporting evidence). It is essential that you allocate sufficient time for undertaking the practicum. Signed supervision agreements are to be returned to the course co-ordinator prior to commencing the practicum.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

While the specific content and processes will be adapted to meet the needs of students, teaching and learning approaches will include presentations by the unit co-ordinator, guests and students, group discussions and feedback, observations, and research.

Assessment

Assessment is due at the end of the practicum and will consist of formative and summative tasks. Formative assessment is ongoing and is provided through regular contact with the unit co-ordinator.

Assessment name: Practical Supervision
Description: Each 50 hours of practicum requires at least one hour of supervision by the unit coordinator by phonel or in person. Assessment is due at the end of semester after 200 hours of the practicum.
Relates to objectives: -
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End Semester

Assessment name: Portfolio
Description: Students will be required to submit a portfolio containing the following:

• A copy of the student's practicum goals and settings (1000).


• A reflective essay on the student's practice framework and experience (4000 words).


• A record of all supervision sessions in appendix.


• A record of practicum activities and hours in appendix

Grading: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

Length: 5000 words maximum.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of practicum

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

There is no set text for this practicum unit. 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

There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with the general conduct of this unit. Workplace health and safety protocols in relation to computer use will apply.

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. Except in the case of assessment reports, it is a requirement that identifying details, such as names, are concealed. You should consult with your supervisor or the course coordinator if ethical issues arise.

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