EDU 104: Paraprofessional Internship

Course Description

Completion of an internship is a requirement to earn a paraprofessional certificate. An internship is performance-based and enables you to earn credit by demonstrating that you have knowledge and competencies required for a paraprofessional and that you can apply your knowledge in actual situations. Your internship site may be your place of work or the site of an extensive volunteer experience. A minimum of 120 hours will be required in one setting during the 15-week internship. You should not apply for the Charter Oak internship until you have completed a minimum of 12 credits in paraprofessional education. It is through your courses that you will gain much of the theoretical knowledge that you will be expected to apply during the internship assessment process.

Internship Settings must be in one of the following types of programs:

• Preschool - grade 12 public school
• Preschool - grade 12 private school (state certified)

Students must identify a supervisor for their internship experience. Your supervisor will be someone in your work or volunteer setting who will verify your responsibilities and be able to comment on your work based on his or her observations of you and interactions with you in this setting. The supervisor must have at least two years of experience in the field and hold an associate’s degree in education, or a bachelor’s degree. The faculty consultant may approve exceptions. Your faculty consultant will determine if credit should be awarded for the internship based on your journal entries, the paper, online discussions, two videos and the phone conference described in the course. (3 credits)

Prerequisites

• EDU 100: Introduction to Paraprofessional Training
• EDU 101: Behavior Strategies and the Paraprofessional
• EDU 102: Exceptional Learners and the Paraprofessional
• EDU 103: Autistic Learner and Assistive Technology

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

1. Demonstrate the roles and responsibilities of a paraprofessional, including:
   1. Abiding by legal requirements in performing duties as a paraprofessional.
   2. Providing supports, finding resources and participating as a valued member of an educational collaborative team.
2. Implement effective communication skills with children and adults, including:
   1. Modeling and using active listening skills.
   2. Using nonverbal communication effectively.
   3. Identifying the impact of nonverbal communication.
   4. Managing conflict effectively.
   5. Improving written communication skills.
3. Implement effective classroom management techniques that support student learning, including:
   1. Performing the paraprofessional's role in supporting student behavior.
   2. Learning and demonstrating the difference between proactive and reactive responses to behavior.
   3. Working as a team member to support positive student behavior.
   4. Demonstrating multiple behavior strategies that will meet the needs of diverse learners.
4. Evaluate and consider legal and ethical issues as they relate to paraprofessional responsibilities, including:
   1. Procedures for health, well-being and safety.
   2. Procedures related to special education and Section 504.
   3. Appropriate responses regarding confidentiality of student information.
5. Apply effective instructional strategies that support student learning, including:
   1. Demonstrating how to prepare for instruction
   2. Selecting procedures to implement during instruction
   3. Incorporating learning accommodations

Course Activities and Grading

Required Texts

• There is no required textbook for this course. Additional readings may be assigned by the instructor as needed.

Course Schedule

COSC Accessibility Statement

Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.

COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources

Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.