Alternative Practicum

 

Alternative Practicum Within Canada

On-line Alternative Practicum Arrangement form   

Alternative Practicum Outside Canada   

On-line Alternative Practicum Arrangement form   

 

What is the alternative practicum?
The alternative practicum is an opportunity to explore an area of educational interest within a context that is different from that experienced during the three regular practicum blocks.

When is the alternative practicum?
The official dates of the 3-week alternative practicum are March 23 until April 9, 2009. The week preceding this is March Break (March 16-20). You can utilize this entire 4-week time frame to complete your 3-week alternative practicum. This flexibility in shifting the 3-week block is particularly important for those at an alternative practicum location where an Easter break does not coincide with the March Break. There must be a minimum of 30 hours per week completed in each of the 3 weeks.

What can I explore during my alternative practicum?
The topic of exploration for the alternative practicum should be consistent with one of the goals of your particular program focus course (FOCI XXX). For example, if you are in the program focus course that looks at exceptional learners, then you should be exploring a topic related to exceptional learners. Your program focus instructor will facilitate your explorations of topic and location as these instructors have past knowledge of alternative practicum placements that other teacher candidates have experienced. Your program focus instructor can also supply you with a letter of introduction that may help you in obtaining a placement. As well, an on-line searchable database of potential locations and activities for the alternative practicum is available on the computers in B307. (An email will be sent out to the TC-L list with instructions on how to access the database.) A binder of previous placements is also available in the Practicum Office. Your program focus instructor needs to approve your topic of exploration and needs to confirm the intended location of your alternative practicum.
Certain P/J teacher candidates are not in a program focus course. In that situation, the topic of exploration should be consistent with your EDST course, your FOUN course, or a topic addressed in PROF 190 or PROF 155. Meetings for P/J candidates not in a program focus course will be scheduled. The Practicum Office can also supply you with a letter of introduction that may help you in obtaining a placement. The Practicum Coordinator (Peter Chin) needs to approve your topic of exploration and needs to confirm the intended location of your alternative practicum. Most approvals can be obtained via electronic conversations (chinp@queensu.ca) without the need for a face-to-face meeting. 

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Alternative Practicum Within Canada

 

The Practicum Office requires specific forms and information to be submitted for the Alternative Practicum prior to starting the practicum.

  1. Alternative Placement Arrangement form - deadline January 9, 2009
  2. OCASP form submitted on-line to Practicum Coordinator (for elevated risk placements)
  3. Work/Education Placement Agreement form - completed, signed by all parties and returned to the Practicum Office on the first day of placement.
  4. Record of Alternative Practicum Experience form - deadline April 17, 2009

Any candidate, regardless of location, participating in activities in which there is an elevated risk, must complete an Off-Campus Activity Safety Policy Planning Record (OCASP) (form One).

Any placement days completed without OCASP approval and Pre-departure completion will not be counted toward the fulfillment of the "PRAC" course requirements.

 

Alternative Practicum Arrangement Form

Deadline: January 9, 2009 — This form must be completed and submitted on-line. Candidates able to submit the information during on-campus weeks are encouraged to do so. Candidates must adhere to District School Board Protocol if arranging an Alternative Practicum in an Ontario School. Candidates arranging an Alternative Practicum out of Canada (including the US) must take the Pre-Departure Orientation Workshop.  Candidates interested in an Alternative Practicum overseas in an international school are required to check with the Placement Office (A101) before contacting such schools.

Candidates arranging the Alternative Practicum in an Ontario school (excluding private) must check and adhere to the Board Protocol for the board in which you want to arrange a placement.

The following boards are the only District School Boards in Ontario for which you can approach school principals directly.  Placements in any board not on the list below, must be formally requested through the Practicum Office.  There is a complete list of Ontario School Board Protocols.   Boards can change their protocol at any time so check web site frequently.  Boards that require a TB test (one-step) are indicated.

Alqonquin-Lakeshore Catholic DSB   Ottawa-Carleton District School Board  
Avon Maitland District School Board   Peterborough, Victoria Northumberland & Clarington Catholic District School Board  
Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic DSB   Renfrew District School Board  
Ctholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario   Simcoe District School Board  
Halton District School Board   St. Clair Catholic District School Board  
Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board TB Trillium Lakelands District School Board  
Huron Perth Catholic District School Board   Upper Canada District School Board  
Kawartha Pineridge District School Board   Waterloo Catholic District School Board  
Lakehead District School Board TB Waterloo Region District School Board  
Limestone District School Board0   York Region District School Board  
London Catholic District School Board TB    
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Off-Campus Activity Safety Policy

Candidates who arrange an Alternative Practicum in the far Canadian north or in a placement with a higher level of risk must complete the on-line 'Off-Campus Activity Safety Policy' (form One).

 

Work/Education Placement Agreement form

For liability and insurance purposes, Queen's University Environmental Health and Safety department requires all Teacher Candidates to complete and submit a Work/Education Placement Agreement form.  This form must be signed by all parties one the first day of the placement and mailed or faxed to the Practicum Office, with a copy kept on file at the Associate School or Host Institution.

 

Record of Alternative Practicum Experience Form

A Record of Alternative Practicum Experience form must be completed by the Host of the Alternative Practicum.  This form outlines the tasks and duties completed during the Alternative Practicum. 

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Alternative Practicum Outside Canada

 

Below is a list of what must be done for the Alternative Practicum.  Deadlines are listed on some items whereas others will have a deadline specific to the department or facilitator.

  1. Submit Alternative Placement Arrangement form to Practicum Office - deadline January 9, 2009
  2. Work/Education Placement Agreement form - completed, signed by all parties and returned to the Practicum Office on the first day of placement.
  3. Submit OCASP form on-line to Practicum Coordinator
  4. Take mandatory Pre-Departure Orientation workshop (dates of workshops are available on the QUIC web site)
  5. Enrol in the Queen's University 'Emergency Support Program' (ESP)
  6. Submit Record of Alternative Practicum Experience form to Practicum Office - deadline April 17, 2009

Even if your program focus instructor or the Practicum Coordinator confirms the appropriateness of your intended location for the alternative practicum, this is only the first step in a multi-step process that ends with getting approval for the location.
First, you need to check the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) website to ensure that the country and region of the country you are intending to travel to is safe. In the travel report and warning section, if the country or the region of the country is designated in either of the highlighted categories, then Queen’s will not approve the alternative practicum placement.

 

Exercise normal security precautions Exercise high degree of caution Avoid non-essential travel Avoid all travel
Exercise normal security precautions Exercise high degree of caution Avoid non-essential travel Avoid all travel


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Alternative Practicum Arrangement Form

Deadline: January 9, 2009 — This form must be completed and a submitted to both the Practicum Office and Foci Instructor. Candidates able to submit the form during on-campus weeks are encouraged to do so. Candidates must adhere to District School Board Protocol if arranging an Alternative Practicum in an Ontario School. Candidates arranging an Alternative Practicum out of Canada (including the US) must take the Pre-Departure Orientation Workshop.  Candidates interested in an Alternative Practicum overseas in an international school are required to check with the Placement Office (A101) before contacting such schools.

A Record of Practicum Experience form must be completed by the Host of the Alternative Practicum.  This form outlines the tasks and duties completed during the Alternative Practicum. 

 

Pre-Departure Orientation Workshop

Candidates going out of the country (including the US) must take the Pre-Departure Orientation Workshop.

*It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure they meet all entry requirements for the country in which they plan to complete the Alternative Practicum.

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Off-Campus Activity Safety Policy

Candidates who arrange an Alternative Practicum placement out of Canada must complete the on-line 'Off-Campus Activity Safety Policy' (form One).

Once a candidate has received approval from the FOCI instructor (or Practicum Coordinator) for a placement out of country (assuming compliance with DFAIT), arrangments can be made for travel and accommodation.  OCASP approval must still be given, however one of the requirements for OCASP is an itinerary including flight schedules.

 

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Work/Education Placement Agreement form

For liability and insurance purposes, Queen's University Environmental Health and Safety department requires all Teacher Candidates to complete and submit a Work/Education Placement Agreement form.  This form must be signed by all parties one the first day of the placement and mailed or faxed to the Practicum Office, with a copy kept on file at the Associate School or Host Institution.

 

Record of Alternative Practicum Experience Form

A Record of Alternative Practicum Experience form must be completed by the Host of the Alternative Practicum.  This form outlines the tasks and duties completed during the Alternative Practicum. 

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