MET Practicum

Course Code

ETEC 581

Course Type

Elective

Applies To

Master’s

Prerequisite

Core Courses

Next Offering

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Course Description

The MET practicum offers you an opportunity to complete a valuable experiential learning project as part of your MET degree, through placement with an academic or community partner engaged in eLearning development, educational technology integration, or other work relevant to educational technology. Project partners host and supervise a practicum student, and benefit from their eLearning expertise.

Experiential learning opportunities, such as practicums, are intentionally applied and reflective educational opportunities that “highlight the power of experience” in the learning process (Roberts, 2012). They do not simply task learners with make-work projects in the wider community or workplace but instead offer experiences that are deliberate in their pedagogical and philosophical design.

A MET practicum is worth 3 credits and demands roughly 130 hours of work – equivalent to the average workload of a standard MET course. Normally, students are advised to limit the total number of ETEC 580/565P credits to six.

ETEC 581 projects are only available to students enrolled in the full MET degree program. Typically, students are expected to have successfully completed at least six ETEC courses, including all core courses.

Learning Objectives

On completion of a MET Practicum placement, you will be able to:

  • Apply theory learned in your MET coursework to professional practice;
  • Demonstrate problem-solving, critical thinking, research, and teamwork skills in the context of an educational technology project;
  • Demonstrate a more nuanced understanding of professional, communicative, and workplace cultures, realities, and challenges in relation to learning technology and eLearning development;
  • Showcase your ability to design and/or develop a usable tool for teaching and learning that meets user needs and effectively integrates scholarship, new media, and other educational technology approaches.

The MET practicum experience also benefits you by:

  • Enhancing your professional network;
  • Providing an opportunity to gain new professional experience relating to MET learning;
  • Building leadership, technical, communication, and professional skills;
  • Increasing confidence in your own professional skills and knowledge;
  • Developing and demonstrating skills that will augment your professional record;
  • Increasing clarity around your academic and professional goals.

How to find a practicum placement

Normally, practicum opportunities are advertised to current MET students, inviting applications. Project partners will then select the applicant(s) who they feel are the best fit for their project.

You may also propose a practicum project with a partner that you have identified yourself, but it is recommended that you consult with the MET Practicum Instructor about this before proceeding with proposal writing.

Activities or projects that you already undertake in your current professional role and context will not be approved.

Possible practicum projects

MET practicum projects typically involve collaboration with an individual or group. Available projects may include curriculum design or development, educational multimedia development, eLearning design, advising on educational technology integration, or supervised eLearning research. New projects and types of projects become available regularly.

Your responsibilities

If you wish to include a 581 Practicum project in your program of study, watch for announcements of available practicum opportunities and submit your application as directed in the project description. You are invited to consult with the Practicum Supervisor at any time, to discuss options.

Once you have been selected to take up a practicum placement with a project partner you are responsible for consulting with your new partner/supervisor to clearly outline your practicum project plan. Complete and sign the MET Practicum Project Proposal form below and submit it to the Practicum Supervisor.

The practicum project proposal should include the following:

  • Statement of purpose and objectives for the practicum project (include a working title).
  • Practicum schedule (describe the form and frequency of student-partner consultations; also, specify the timeframe [e.g., number of weeks] over which the practicum will take place).
  • Expected outcomes and outputs (indicate the expected format and due dates for primary project milestones).
  • Assessment plan (list all components of grading, along with weighting and criteria).

Registering for ETEC 581

You cannot register for a 581 Practicum directly; you must do so through the MET Program. To register for a 581 Practicum, you must have approval from both the MET Practicum Instructor and the MET Academic Advisor. Once approved, your form will be submitted to the Senior Program Assistant, who will then register you in the course and put a copy of the signed form in your file.

All registration-related deadlines listed in the University Calendar apply to 581 Practicum projects.

Download MET Practicum Project Form

MET Practicum Project FormDownload

Minor course topic, activity, reading/resource, and assignment details may change from year to year.