The Policy Field Unit (PFU) is an independently designed practicum placement for School of Social Work (SSW) students at a large, urban Midwestern university. The placement provides students an opportunity to engage with the policy process as macro social work practitioners in a variety of settings. Increasing social work students' efficacy in…

The potential of ePortfolios is derived from a learner's ability to synthesize learning experiences to better understand how seemingly disparate modalities are connected (Alvarez & Moxley, 2004; Chen, 2009). This is best accomplished through a program-wide implementation of ePortfolios, including providing time for selfdirected learning…

Since 2003 MSW students at an urban university have participated in a problem-based learning maternal and child health (MCH) leadership training program sponsored by the Health Resources and Services Administration. This survey examined overall satisfaction with a leadership training program as well as self-reported leadership competencies in…

Counseling graduate students may begin practicum with low self-efficacy regarding their counseling abilities and skills. In the current study, we implemented a small-series (N = 11) single-case research design to assess the effectiveness of the practicum experience to increase counseling students' self-efficacy. Analysis of participants' scores on…

Assesses the current status of practicum training in counselor education programs accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Research Educational Programs. Findings and implications for counselor training are discussed. (Author)

Counselor educators at The University of Tennessee implemented a competency-based counseling practicum in 1974. These educators have had several reactions to this approach. The counselor competencies that are employed are listed at the conclusion of the paper. It has been noted that the competencies tend to encourage movement through the…

Reviewed research on practicum supervision in terms of findings and research designs employed. Classified research according to counselor-supervisor similarity, training methods, and evaluation. Conclusions indicated no support for supervisor-counselor matching, support for experiential, modeling and didatic methods, and peer supervision. (Author)

Provides a professional model for practicum supervision using supervisors with equal responsibility and status. The model stresses the use of professional knowledge in both the content and process of practicum supervision. Dual-focus supervision is seen as the integration and application of theory congruency and interpersonal dynamics. (Author/BL)

This study examined the effectiveness of a new counseling practicum training model which was developed as part of a Professional Development School (PDS) program. Unlike the traditional counseling practicum, the university instructor and graduate students worked together in an elementary school setting for one day a week. All supervision was…

This paper introduces a rationale and method for constructing behavioral analytic measures of training program effectiveness that can be adopted by directors of training in diverse settings. The model includes derivation of problematic, on-the-job situations and effective responses from a target sample of trainees and builds an evaluation measure…

The effect of supervision on the learning of basic clinical interviewing skills within the microcounseling format was studied. Subjects were 12 paraprofessional counselors. Analysis revealed only one significant effect indicating more frequent use of microcounseling than opposite skills. No significant differences were found between training…

Responds to review by Baker, Daniels, and Greeley of three major programs for systematic training of graduate-level counselors. Lists 10 important contributions by Robert R. Carkhuff to psychology and specifically to counseling and education. (TE)

Illustrates the potential of a single-case research design as a method for demonstrating supervisor accountability. Utilizing a multiple baseline design the effectiveness of a brief supervisory intervention was evaluated. The process and decisions involved in using a single-case design to evaluate supervisor effectiveness are discussed. (Author/BL)

Discusses a three-phase study using a "rational approach" (as opposed to a consensus approach) to develop a list of recommended items to be included in follow-up surveys of counselor preparation program graduates and their employers. Usable data were received from 144 (42 percent) of the institutions contacted. Survey elements are suggested.…