Assignments:
| * | PFE Agreement |
| * | Journal |
| * | Poster Session |
| * | Portfolio |
| * | Discussion |
| * | True Outcomes |
Journal
The weight of the journal towards the final grade should be 15% to 35%; 50%
less amount allocated to poster session. One of the major benefits of doing a
practicum is the opportunity to observe a workplace, participate in its
activities, and reflect on the experience. The journal is a systematic
record of these observations and reflections about the practicum experience. Note
that the Journal provides an opportunity to reflect on the ethical implications
of your practice, although you may choose to meet this course requirement
in another assignment. A student whose PFE is based less on special projects
and more on the experience of daily routines in a library or information
service will have fewer tangible products to present, but may have a very rich
journal. The conclusion, reflecting on how fully the practicum outcomes have
been achieved, is the student’s final report on the experience.
Journal content: A journal entry
should be made for each time the student works at the site. Each entry should
note the number of hours worked that time, and a running count of the total
hours accumulated thus far. But beyond that, the journal is a record of what is
being learned. It should
encompass the total PFE, including interpersonal and organizational issues as
well as tasks performed. Journals will be evaluated on the basis of how
well they describe and reflect upon such matters as the following:
- How student was introduced into the organization and what type of
orientation.
- What happens - What takes place,
including day-to-day routines and critical incidents
- Tasks - Major tasks and accomplishments
that day
- Issues - Issues or problems that arise
for the student or in the organization and how they get resolved
- Staffing - Staffing patterns or levels
of staffing, and their effects on how work is done
- Physical environment - How physical
layout, furniture, noise, temperature, light, etc. affect service or
ability to carry out responsibilities
- Resources – Perceived adequacy of
funding, its effect on collections, services, ability to carry out
projects and duties
- Social climate - Interactions among
workers; overall social climate (friendly, distant, etc.)
- Users - Types of users served; typical
needs of patrons
- Staff/user interactions – Nature
of contacts; frequency; content covered; pace or pressure
- Service philosophy – Perceived
standards or orientation toward service
- Challenges - Particular challenges for
this organization and how they are being met
- Management style - The management style
practiced by mentors and others
- Kind of supervision received –
Direction, training, feedback, access, and mentoring
- Meetings - What takes place at meetings
the student is invited to attend
- Developmental progress - Development of
skill and confidence in carrying out duties
- Explanations and hypotheses -
Generally, why things seem to be the way they are
- Critical perspective - How things might
be done differently or more effectively
- Self-evaluation – Strengths and
weaknesses; how one might have made different choices if one were doing it
over
- Ethical implications of any and all of
the above
Format: Your final
journal submission will be a major part of your portfolio. It will be listed in
the table of contents, and it will have an introduction and conclusion:
- Introduction: In a brief (three-paragraph) essay, highlight the
activities and reflections that most contributed to your progress toward
the GSLIS Outcomes specified in your agreement.
- Conclusion: In a brief essay, reflect
on the professional meaning and implications of what you experienced and
learned during the term.
Portfolios will be
submitted online to TrueOutcomes and may include separate files (but limit the
number: try to combine all Word files, all PowerPoints, etc.).
Due: Interim journal report - due with attached message on Sakai by 3/11/11; final journal submitted to TrueOutcomes by 5/2/11