Practicum in Area of Specialization: Social Science Education 
CTSE 7910: Spring 2010

Instructor:								Class Sessions:
John Saye								Variable 
5048 Haley Center							
844-6891								Office Hours:	
sayejoh@auburn.edu							Mon/Wed: 1:30-3:00	 
www.auburn.edu/~sayejoh	and by appointment

1.	Date Syllabus Prepared:	December 2009

2.	Texts:		Textbook and/or other resources (journals, research monographs, unpublished research, etc.) Selected as appropriate to the individual practicum topics.

3.	Course Description:

Provides individual students with experiences relating theory and practice, usually in a school setting.  The practicum is designed to provide performance-based experience related to the area of specialization.  It is designed to provide students with cooperatively selected activities that will assist them in gaining expertise/experience within a selected area of theory and practice.  Flexibility is allowed to provide input by students to identify meaningful problems/applications with regard to their current and future professional activities.

In Social Science Education the practicum is the capstone course prior to completion of all requirements for the Masters degree. Students will submit an exit portfolio that includes: a final report of an action research project, a presentation of the research project to a panel of peers and professors, a teaching reflection, and any other evidence necessary to demonstrate the abilities required by state technology standards.

The approved project/product/research/activity effort associated with the practicum should entail a minimum of 30 hours of documented work or involvement for each one (1) hour of assigned credit.

4.	Course Objectives:

The course is designed to:
A.	Provide experience closely relating theory and practice, usually in a school setting.
B.	Provide various and flexible learning activities to afford the student the opportunity to achieve required or desired experience in an area of specialization.

	Students will be able to:

A.	In consultation with the professor, select a topical area of study related to their areas of specialization. 
B.	Write a proposal to guide completion of the study.  The proposal will include a description of the study, objectives, literature review, methodology to be used in completing the study or project (including resources), and evaluation.
C.	Submit evidence of study/project completion, such as a finished product or paper.
D.	Present and discuss project outcomes with a panel of peers and professors.
F.		Submit evidence that demonstrates the technology proficiencies required for effective teaching and learning.
G.		Submit evidence that demonstrates advanced teaching proficiencies.

6.	
Course Content:

A.	The course content is developed based upon the individual student’s approved practicum proposal.  
B.	The length of time expended in the course will depend on the learning experience selected and credit hours awarded for the activity.
C.	The student is expected to spend a minimum of 30 hours of documented work or involvement for each hour of credit.  Some learning experiences will required more hours than others, depending upon the activity to be accomplished.

7. 	Course Requirements:

A.	Attend an orientation session with the professor.
B.	Identify a topic and obtain approval from the professor. 
C.	Write an action plan proposal describing the study/project and a plan for completing and evaluating the study/project.
D.	If the practicum is to be completed in a school, obtain appropriate written permission to do so.  If the practicum involves research using human subjects, obtain the approval of Auburn University’s Institutional Review Board.
E.	Prepare a review of the literature using the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th edition).  (Begin a list of references while writing the proposal and expand it as work on the practicum progresses.)
F.	Schedule a minimum of six visits (in person or on-line) with the professor during the course of the practicum experience. (Checkpoints will be established for each meeting.)
1)	Orientation meeting during Week 1
2)	Week 3 or Week 4
3)	Week 6 or Week 7 
4)	Week 9 or Week 10
5)	Week 11 or Week 12
6)	Week 13 or Week 14
G.   Submit paper or finished product 
H.  Present project outcomes to panel of peers and professors.
I.	Submit evidence of technology competencies.
J.	Submit evidence of advanced teaching competencies.

8.	Evaluation

The professor will determine whether the student has met the criteria established jointly by professor and student and will assign an S (Satisfactory) or U (Unsatisfactory) for the course.  Weighted components will be the following:

Exit Portfolio (including paper or product and presentation 		up to 80 points
of paper or product, teaching videotape and reflection, evidence 
of technology competencies)				Proposal							up to 10 points
		Meeting with professor and checkpoints completed			up to 10 points
		
	Satisfactory grades will be assigned only to practica that earn at least 70 points.

9.	
Class Policy Statements

1.	Participation: Students are expected to participate in all class discussions and in all exercises. Texts will be heavily used in class.  BRING TEXT EACH DAY. Assignments are due on announced dates. Unexcused late assignments are unacceptable. Students are responsible for initiating arrangements for missed work due to excused absences as outlined in the Tiger Cub.

2.	Attendance/Absences: Attendance is required. Please be on time. Those with more than one unexcused absence can receive no more that a “D” for the course. Three unexcused tardies are the equivalent of an absence. E-mail or phone and leave a message at my office number above if you are going to miss class. If an exam is missed, a make-up exam will be given only for University-approved excuses as outlined in the Tiger Cub. Arrangement to take a make-up exam must be made in advance. Students who miss an exam because of illness need a doctor’s statement for verification of sickness and should clear the absence with the instructor the day they return to class. Other unavoidable excused absences from campus must be documented and cleared with the instructor in advance.

3.	Accommodations:  Students who need accommodations are asked to arrange a meeting during office hours the first week of class or as soon as possible if accommodations are needed immediately. If you have a conflict with my office hours, an alternative time can be arranged. To set up this meeting, please contact me by e-mail. Bring a copy of your Accommodation Memo and an Instructor Verification Form to the meeting.  If you do not have an Accommodation Memo, but need accommodations, make an appointment with The Program for Students with Disabilities in 1244 Haley Center as soon as possible.  Telephone: 334-844-2096 (V/TT).

4.	Honesty Code: The Auburn University Academic Honesty Code and the Tiger Cub Rules and regulations pertaining to Cheating and Plagiarism will apply to this class.

5.	Professionalism: As faculty, staff, and students interact in professional settings, they are expected to demonstrate professional behavior as defined in the College’s conceptual framework. These professional commitments or dispositions are listed below:

•	Engage in responsible and ethical professional practices
•	Contribute to collaborative learning communities
•	Demonstrate a commitment to diversity
•	Model and nurture intellectual vitality

10.	Justification for Graduate Credit
10.	

This course will allow individual graduate students to pursue in-depth study of advanced topics within their respective areas of specialization, usually in a school setting.  Although guided by the professor at periodic checkpoints, the course requires independent work of the student to design, develop, and produce a product for presentation and evaluation.