Our advisory committee recommends students apply the skills and techniques learned in courses. Although some students practice these skills on the job, our committee recommends as well that students obtain experience with children in a variety of settings. Our diploma requires students complete one practicum experience: either in our lab preschool, the only facility of it's kind in a technical college in the state, or a choice practicum. The A.A.S degree requires two practicums. Students may choose from those two, as well as a practicum working with special needs children. Your advisor will place you in a practicum to fit your needs. Here is a bit more information on the types of practicums.
The students who register for a choice practicum may choose to work with children in programs with infants, toddlers, preschool, or school age children, or early childhood family education programs or family child care centers. Some have a goal to be a director of a center and choose to shadow a director or assistant director. Students need to complete 150 hours at an approved facility with which our program has a contract, and complete required assignments. Reflection is a key part of each practicum.
Students who register for the special needs practicum have similar assignments and hourly requirements, but are placed in programs, public or private, working with special needs children. Again, the placement must be at an approved program with which our program has a contract. These placements may be with preschool or school age children. The classroom assignment could be in an inclusion setting where children with special needs are included in the typical classroom setting, or self contained with only children who have moderate to severe special needs. Both the choice and special needs practicums are completed under the supervision of an experienced teacher.
Our lab preschool is the one placement all students have in common. . All students who register are assigned to either the morning or afternoon session, working three of the four sessions the children are in attendance. Students work together as a team to plan and present activities with children. This practicum more than the others prepares students to be a head teacher, and 150 hours are required to complete the experience. Students work under the supervision of a master teacher, and complete the required assignments. All three practicums require that students journal their thoughts and feelings each day.
It would seem that this is a lot of unpaid hours to work, but our program strives to place students in facilities with great learning potential. Students consistently say this is one of the strengths of our program. It's a great addition to the experience section of any resume', and will prepare students to work with children in a variety of settings.