Depending on the field in which you wish to work and your placement within a program, the realities of your practicum experience can vary greatly. If you want to be a teacher, for example, your practicum will most likely be in a classroom, where you will interact with students and lead instruction. However, if you want to work in a different field, such as healthcare or conflict resolution, your practicum experience will be quite different. In general, you can expect to be in an environment where you can apply what you’ve learned in class to real-world situations.
Practicum experiences are designed to allow you to see how the material and information you learn in the classroom are applied in real-world situations. This may appear intimidating at first, but it is frequently regarded as just as important to your education as anything you learn from a teacher. Depending on the field in which you wish to work, your practicum experience will likely vary significantly, but general expectations include exposure to new ideas and a better understanding of what you have learned.
For example, if you want to be a teacher, your practicum experience will most likely be in a classroom under the supervision of a licensed teacher. You will interact with students and possibly meet other teachers as a result of this. Because you’re in a classroom, you’ll notice how the instructor manages the classroom and organizes activities to keep students on track. Observing how the teacher interacts with other professionals and parents as part of your practicum may help you better understand how different social concepts affect education and teaching.
Your practicum experience in other fields and professions, on the other hand, may vary significantly, particularly in situations that are particularly stressful or difficult. Students interested in becoming healthcare providers, such as doctors and nurses, often participate in a practicum to get a taste of what it’s like to work in the field. This can be difficult, but it is necessary because it exposes you to aspects of the workplace that may otherwise come as a surprise when you finish your education.
However, general expectations for any practicum experience should include a better understanding and awareness of what it’s like to work in a specific industry. In a classroom, you can learn a lot of information, but not all of it is relevant to your professional future. You will most likely have a much better understanding of what is relevant and what is purely academic after completing a practicum. This applies to both previously learned information as well as new material in future courses.