Practicum Placement: Philosophy & Purpose

Practicum Placement: Philosophy & Purpose

The purpose of the practicum experience is to provide the O&M candidate with the learning conditions in which they learn, practice and develop all components involved in the ethical instruction of orientation and mobility to students/clients with visual impairment, blindness, deafblindness, and additional disabilities.

Practicum placements are part of PSU’s O&M coursework requirements and have the critical goal of teaching the O&M candidate how to assess, modify, instruct, and evaluate the success of the instructional approaches with students/clients with visual impairments, blindness, deafblindness and including those who have additional disabilities. Practicum students are referred to as O&M candidates and bring a variety of knowledge and skills to diverse practicum placements in different states, districts, and agency settings. PSU O&M candidates will learn to apply knowledge and skills from previous coursework as well as to synthesize new learning gained during the practicum through authentic experiences of assessing, planning, and providing sequential instruction to children and adults under the direct supervision of a highly qualified and experienced O&M Cooperating Professionals and University Supervisors.

This triad model of support to PSU students from the University Instructor, the O&M Cooperating Professional, and University Supervisor is designed to guide students through a cycle of applying best practices and standards-based instruction with children and adults with visual impairment, blindness, deafblindness, and additional disabilities in natural contexts. While the Instructor is leading the cohort through a structured set of 4 practicum courses, the O&M candidate is receiving direct coaching and feedback from the site-based Cooperating Professional and the University Supervisor, who makes both site-based and distance-based observations of the candidate’s work. The triad of professionals that provides direct support to PSU’s O&M candidates is undergirded with support from the O&M Program Coordinator and the Field Placements Office. The practicum experience for candidates is fortified with expectations for feedback and self-reflection which are evidence-based cornerstones of adult learning.

Practicum Placement Objectives

1. The O&M candidate will demonstrate the ability to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate O&M skills and concepts for diverse students as an O&M specialist.

2. The O&M candidate will demonstrate ethical practice of O&M instruction, per the O&M Code of Ethics and district/agency policy.

3. The O&M candidate will identify issues involving learner safety and instructor liability.

4. The O&M candidate will know and practice techniques and strategies that support delivery of O&M services in rural and remote areas.

5. The O&M candidate will learn about models of service delivery as well as a variety of resources to support the effective provision of O&M programming, including strategies for establishing new programs based on needs.

6. The O&M candidate will demonstrate the ability to work and communicate effectively in a multidisciplinary team that includes professionals, parents/families, students, clients, and/or assistants/paraprofessionals to the measurable benefit of student or client learning.

7. The O&M candidate will demonstrate the ability to use professional resources, including O&M standards, O&M checklists, and O&M textbooks to plan, execute and evaluate instruction.

8. The O&M candidate will demonstrate reflective instruction.

9. The O&M candidate will successfully complete all aspects of practicum requirements.

10. The O&M candidate will demonstrate ACVREP and AERBVI Clinical Competencies which will be verified by O&M Cooperating Professionals and University Supervisors.

11. Over the course of the 12 credit (4 graduate-level courses) practicum program, the O&M candidate will create artifacts (or work samples) that will be shared with the University Supervisor and Cooperating O&M Professional for feedback. These artifacts provide opportunities for documenting, demonstrating and reflecting upon the candidate’s knowledge and skills of the O&M practice.