EDSP 688 Practicum in Special Education II: External

Candidates participate in a supervised field practicum in a special education setting to gain skills, knowledge, and experience working with individuals with exceptionalities. This experience provides beginning special education teacher candidates with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand and address the academic, social, behavioral, and transition needs of individuals with disabilities throughout the school setting. Completion of at least 45-hours is required in order to pass the practicum course. This practicum course may only be repeated one time with program chair approval.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Course Guide

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*The information contained in our Course Guides is provided as a sample. Specific course curriculum and requirements for each course are provided by individual instructors each semester. Students should not use Course Guides to find and complete assignments, class prerequisites, or order books.


The candidate is required to engage in developmental and sequential field experiences throughout their program. The candidate will complete practicum experiences that correspond to the corequisite course identified in the candidate’s degree completion plan. The candidate will assist in the classroom as well as teach one or more formal lessons.


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Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the candidate will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview. 

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Field Experience: Planning Your Field Experience Assignment

The candidate will use the provided template to document the projected 45-hour practicum placement schedule in collaboration with the candidate’s host teacher/mentor. (CLO: A, F)

Field Experience: Lesson Observation Assignment

The candidate will observe their host teacher’s instruction of students and note the best practices the host teacher demonstrates. This is not a critique or evaluation of the host teacher, but an opportunity for the candidate to learn from the host teacher as they model best practices. A checklist and three-paragraph reflection are required. Each paragraph must be 5 sentences. (CLO: A, C)

Field Experience: Self-Monitoring Assignment

The candidate will complete this self-monitoring assignment to track their progress in the practicum. The candidate will record details on each of their practicum visits following the format provided in Canvas. The candidate will submit this assignment in CORE and Canvas. (CLO: A, F)

Field Experience: Lesson Plan Assignment

In coordination with the host teacher and using the template provided, the candidate will compose a lesson plan that they will teach during the practicum. The candidate must gain the host teacher’s feedback regarding the lesson plan prior to teaching it. The host teacher’s official approval must be documented and submitted. (CLO: A, B, D, E)

Field Experience: Pre-SCRIP Dispositions Self-Assessment Assignment

The candidate will reflect on the SOE SCRIP dispositions and rate his or her performance on the SCRIP dispositions during the practicum. The candidate will write a justification (4–5 sentences) with specific examples (minimum of 3) to support the self-rating given for each disposition. This assignment will be completed in CORE and submitted in Canvas. (CLO: C, G)

Field Experience: Pre-CPAST Self-Reflection Assignment

The candidate will complete the self-reflection based on a lesson that has been taught during the practicum experience. The candidate will provide at least two detailed and thoughtful sentences to justify the rating chosen for each rubric criterion. The candidate’s grade will be based on the quality of the justification he or she provides rather than the score that is self-assigned. This assignment will be completed in CORE and submitted in Canvas. (CLO: B, C)

Field Experience: Pre-CPAST Host Teacher Evaluation Assignment

The host teacher will evaluate the candidate’s performance during the practicum using the Pre-CPAST assessment after observing one of the candidate’s required lessons in his or her classroom. This assignment will be completed in CORE and submitted in Canvas. (CLO: A, C, D, E)

Field Experience: Field Experience Report Assignment

The candidate will log all completed practicum hours in FEM in CORE. The candidate’s host teacher will verify and approve the hours logged in CORE. The candidate will submit a copy of the time log with the approved hours in Canvas. (CLO: A, F)

Field Experience: Field Experience Conclusion Assignment

The candidate will write a thank-you note to the Host Teacher showing gratitude for the privilege of completing the practicum in his/her classroom. The candidate will then take a picture of the note and submit it in Canvas. (CLO: C, E)

Quiz: Acknowledgement

After reviewing the information related to this practicum and the candidate’s co-requisite course, the candidate will complete this acknowledgement quiz. This quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 3 true/false questions, and have a 1-hour time limit. (CLO: A, F)

Quiz: Practicum Placement Request and Setting

After submitting the practicum placement request and reviewing the practicum overview information, the candidate will complete this quiz. This quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 6 file-upload, short-answer, and true/false questions, and have a 1-hour time limit. (CLO: A, F)

After reviewing the Mapping Out Your Field Experiences videos, the candidate will complete this quiz. This quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 5 multiple-choice and true/false questions, and have a 1-hour time limit. (CLO: A, F)

Quiz: Practicum Expectations

After reviewing the Field Experience Handbook and advising guide, the candidate will complete this quiz. This quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 10 true/false questions, and have a 1-hour time limit. (CLO: A, F)

After reviewing the CORE Information document, the candidate will complete this quiz. This quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 5 multiple-choice and true/false questions, and have a 1-hour time limit. (CLO: A, F)

After reviewing all of the practicum information, the candidate will complete this quiz. This quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 2 true/false questions, and have a 1-hour time limit. (CLO: A, F)

Quiz: Career Services

After reviewing the Career Services Information document, the candidate will complete this quiz. This quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 5 multiple-choice and true/false questions, and have a 1-hour time limit. (CLO: A, F)

The candidate will report the name of the placement school, host teacher/mentor, and host teacher/mentor email address that was confirmed by the Field Placement Office. If the candidate is still waiting for confirmation, he or she will instead upload proof of his or her submission of the Practicum Placement Request Form. This quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 1 short-answer question, and have a 1-hour time limit. (CLO: A, F)

Quiz: Field Experience Summary

After reviewing the information related to the field experience summary, the candidate will complete this field experience summary quiz. This quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 5 multiple-choice and true/false questions, and have a 1-hour time limit. (CLO: A, F)


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