SLIS 5090.701

Barbara Stein Martin
stein@unt.edu

Practicum Work Description

The UNT/SLIS practicum is 120 clock hours to be mutually arranged between the site supervisor and the student. In some situations, it is desirable to allow the students to spend some of these hours at a different site, but only one person is the responsible contact person with UNT. For example, a reference position in a public library is encouraged to allow some hours to be spent in at least one other area of the library. 

The student should work in as many areas and jobs as the supervisor is willing to allow. The duties should be progressively more professional in nature. The objective is to prepare the student to do this work at a professional level. As the supervisor, it is your decision, based on your own professional experience, to decide how the student will spend this time at your site. Individual questions on appropriate work duties for the student should be directed to Barbara Stein Martin, stein@unt.edu..

At the end of the semester, you will complete an EVALUATION FORM on the student to determine whether they passed or failed the course.

• Practicum is 120 clock hours completed under the supervision of a qualified information professional.
• Duties should be progressively more professional in nature as determined by the site supervisor.
• Days and hours to be mutually agreed upon by student and site supervisor.
• The practicum supervisor will convey a pass/fail grade to the practicum director and will complete an online evaluation form on the student.
• The supervisor will share the information on the evaluation form with the student to make this a learning experience for the student.
• The supervisor will participate in an online course using WebCT for communication purposes. The student will assist the supervisor with this after the semester begins.

At the beginning of the semester the student will:

• List his/her objectives for the practicum. This will be shared with the Supervisor and changes made as necessary. It will then be posted through the WebCT course as stated in the course. 
• Other assignments as stated in the course syllabus including a personal statement and description of the practicum site.

At the end of the semester the student will:

• Prepare a paper and post it as directed in the online course. It will include a description of the practicum site and the work performed. The student should reflect on what was learned and how it is of benefit professionally.
• Complete an online course evaluation form.