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Therefore, a minimum of 16 hours will be spent during the practicum concentrating on each area outlined in PDE's Performance standards. There are a total of 5 areas and 16 hours of supervised experience per area for a total of 80 hours minimum. While the minimum amount of time to be spent in the field is 80 hours, the actual length of time that each candidate spends in the field varies from candidate to candidate. At the end of the field experience, each candidate must provide a written communication directly from a lead administrator (building level principal or district superintendent) specifically stating that the candidate is, in fact, ready to serve in a school district as a Specialist in Instructional Technology. Therefore, the principal or school district superintendent is the person who dictates the amount of time that the candidate will need to spend in the supervised field experience, in order, for that administrator to feel comfortable to provide this required recommendation. The amount of time spent during a practicum can vary, but must be no less than two weeks and not more than 12 weeks. Only after a candidate has completed INSYS 461 & 462, completed a personal web-based portfolio that demonstrates mastery of ALL competencies in Areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, & 10, requested a portfolio review and successfully passed the review, and provided evidence of continuous INSYS World Campus course enrollment will authorization be granted to register for the practicum, INSYS 595 - Internship. This means that the practicum occurs towards the end of the program. All candidates are required to register for INSYS 595 - Internship during the practicum. While registered for INSYS 595, candidate's evaluate personal strengths and weaknesses, complete pre-practicum planning in the form of a well-developed plan, actually go out in the field and then, compile the required evidence to document growth and development in the field of Instructional Technology. This process is aligned with and reflects both PDE and AECT standards. Candidates may register for INSYS 595 at any time during a semester and the course will end 12 weeks after the date of registration. However, candidates must first contact the ITSC Program Director to receive permission to register for INSYS 595 - Internship. More information about the practicum is located in Area 9 - Supervised School Experience. Specific details are located on each competency's Learning Resource page in Area 9 and the competencies are: 9.01, 9.02, and 9.03. Note 1: All candidates are required to have liability insurance and clearances (Act 151 and Act 34) before proceeding with the practicum in a school environment. Proof of liability insurance and clearances must also be included in personal web-based portfolios Note 2: All ITSC candidates are required to register for INSYS 595 - Internship however, exemptions will be granted to candidates who hold a current Pennsylvania Department of Education emergency ITS certificate at the time that the practicum is due. Note 3: Candidates with a current PDE issued ITS emergency certification at the time that the practicum is due will need to scan the certificate and include it in the web-based portfolio. After an emergency certificate is included in a portfolio, candidates' must login to the student database and respond to 9.02 & 9.03 by placing the URL location of the scanned certificate. However, a product for 9.01 must be completed and included in every candidate's portfolio, even candidates with emergency certification.  |
