Clinical Practice

Practicum

A practicum is a clinical experience with required field hours that range from 3-6+ hours per week during the academic year. Practicum courses are typically also connected to one or two methods courses for the purpose of putting theory into practice.

Prior to student teaching, you will participate in a variety of urban, urban ring, rural, and suburban field experiences in a Rhode Island school setting through your enrollment in a sequence of courses that can include EDC 250, EDC 331, EDC 332, EDC 454, EDC 459, EDC 460, and many others.

Below is important information regarding requirements necessary for placement as well as information to guide you from your very first classroom visit through to your preparation to student teach.

Prior to Your Practicum

  • Submit a valid and current BCI Background Check to the COEDU database by September 1st of the year that you will complete a practicum course.
  • Complete the Practicum Information form, sent to you with your admission documents and also when you register for a practicum course. This form provides OCPP with important information regarding your clinical practice requirements, which informs our work with district partners. If your schedule or if you have additional important information to share with OCPP regarding your practicum placement, please log back into the Practicum Information form to change your information.
  • Consider how you will travel to your practicum site.
    • Discuss your transportation options with your family and friends.
    • We try to connect you to a carpool if you need one, but we are not always able to do so.
    • If you and others have a carpool already created, let OCPP know on the Practicum Information form (include student names). We will work to secure placements for you at the same school or nearby schools.
    • Please remember that transportation is your responsibility.
  • See your academic advisor with any questions about your upcoming practicum or your sequence of courses
  • You are a mandated reporter. Make sure that you understand this legal responsibility.
    • DCYF Report Child Abuse
    • RI Abused and Neglected Children Laws
    • What to do if you suspect a student in your classroom is being abused or neglected:
      • It is your legal and moral responsibility to report any suspected or known child abuse or neglect immediately to DCYF. This legal responsibility supersedes any district or URI policy.
      • Contact your URI instructor, faculty, and/or advisor immediately to let them know that you have reported suspected or known abuse.

Registering and Scheduling Your Practicum Experience

  • In eCampus, some practicum courses include an extended slot of time (3+ hours), while others include a short time block of “AGCY” time.
    • If your practicum course includes an extended slot of time (3+ hours), you will complete your practicum hours during that designated time slot.
    • If your practicum includes a short “AGCY” time slot, you will have flexibility to schedule your practicum hours where they fit in with your schedule and your clinical educator’s schedule. You will negotiate this directly with your clinical educator once you have your placement information.
  • Save a 5+ hour block of time in your schedule to complete your practicum hours
    • Because of travel, we recommend that you include a 5+ hour block of time for your practicum each semester.
    • It is best if you have more than 1 option in your schedule for your practicum, just in case your clinical educator or classroom is not available during one of your times.
    • If your practicum course includes an “AGCY” (agency) time in eCampus, this is an open block of time that you have in your schedule for your practicum. AGCY times do not typically meet on-campus (check with your advisor or instructor to be sure). However, you do not have to attend your practicum hours during the AGCY time if there is a better time in your schedule.
  • If you are enrolled in 2 practicum courses, you are responsible to complete the required hours for each course. (e.g. EDC 250 +3 hours a week + EDC 331 +4 hours a week for a total of 7 minimum required practicum hours a week). We aim to place you in 1 school or 1 district for both placements, when possible.
  • Registering for EDC 250
    • Each section of EDC 250 has a focus for placements (e.g. early childhood/elementary, secondary/world language, music). MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE REGISTERED FOR A SECTION THAT IS GOING TO THE LEVEL (PLACEMENT) THAT YOU WANT. You can find this information in the Notes section for each section of EDC 250.
  • Email your instructor and/or advisor with any questions, including to ask for a permission number.

During Your Practicum Course and School Visits

  • You will receive your practicum information from your instructor in the second or third week of classes and begin going out to your practicum the week after. Contact your clinical educator IMMEDIATELY to introduce yourself and schedule your first visit to your practicum.
  • The primary activity of this course will be your work in schools, and/or other educational programs. Each practicum course has a minimum amount of hours during which you are expected to be working with students in small or large groups, in tutorial sessions, or in other academic activities directly working with students. You are expected to exceed the minimum number of required hours for your practicum.
  • To bring with you to your school:
    • For your first visit, bring any course paperwork that explains your role and expectations as well the clinical educator’s role and expectations for the semester, a letter for the clinical educator from your instructor or other documents from your class, your BCI, other required district/school information
    • Bring a hard copy of your BCI and any other required paperwork (course documents, district paperwork, etc.) to your school every time you visit.
  • Teachers, students, and schools are depending on you and plan for your weekly visits. The utmost professionalism, dependability, consideration, and kindness is expected. If you are sick or have an extenuating circumstance and will not be able to attend your school during your committed time, you will contact your clinical educator and the school immediately.
  • To successfully complete a practicum course, students must regularly and reliably attend their practicum placement every week, be actively engaged with their students, submit all required assignments, and meet all other course expectations.
  • Notify your instructors, university supervisor, advisor(s), and OCPP immediately if you have any questions or concerns.