Human Services: Learning in Action
We believe it is important for you to actively make connections between what is happening in the classroom and outside the classroom.
Students gain many opportunities to put theory into practice during their course work and on field placement. Field placements are work-integrated learning experiences that help bridge classroom learning with professional work experiences.
| Mud kitchen and other play spaces |
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The outdoor playground used by the Vermilion campus day care as well as for play programs needed some work. The Human Services Club took the lead in a cross-campus team that took on the redevelopment. The project also became part of an early childhood educational research project about outdoor play. |
| Youth fall break activity |
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Presuming competence was a concept for 1st year child and youth care counsellor students, until they hosted a fall break activity for local youth. As one student explained the concept means assuming the kids are capable of doing whatever you have planned and being careful not to undermine their abilities if they can't. Games, crafts and learning activities were all on the agenda. For more details, read the story CYCC students connect with local youth.
Photos: From the top — 1. Child and youth care counsellor student plays Snakes'n'Ladders with a girl. 2. Making crafts. 3. Rolling dice and throwing bean bags in a gym game. 4. A scavenger hunt took participants outdoors.; |
Pitching a project and then seeing it through is part of a human services diploma leadership course.
Above - a pitch. See the photo gallery for more photos about past leadership projects.
Passion plays role in leadership seminar projects
Officially the course’s title is Leadership Seminar. A better description is passion project.
For students, learning comes in preparing and executing a project. They choose a project, research it, find the connection to what they’ve learned about human development, prepare a pitch including a budget, present it and then make it happen
| Making a pitch |
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The presentation creates the most anxiety says instructor Joanne McDonald. But it’s what many will have to do when they work in non-profits and community organizations. Facing someone or a group of people they don’t know is likely. Being able to confidently make a presentation with the right aids, a complete budget, back up their project with research and use the right formats is a skill they need. The panel personnel does provide students with a way to relax. McDonald wears a multi-coloured wig an Elton John-esque glasses. One of the other panelists dresses as an eccentric writer who introduces herself as writing children’s literature for love, a something more steamy for the money. “Usually the smiles and chuckles help them relax and breath, so they are more ready to present,” says McDonald. Besides the requirements what McDonald and panel also hope to see and hear is passion for the project. “We tell them that their passion helps engage people and will sell more than just a slick presentation. Yes, they need all of the other parts – the good PowerPoint, the stats, the AP style references – but what will stick in their listeners minds is how passionate they are about helping a particular group.” Each year her students find new ways and new projects to show their passion. Past projects have been in student home towns across Alberta and Saskatchewan, campus communities of Vermilion and Lloydminster, and Edmonton. Projects have included:
Further reading from: 2021 – Fostering community connections |
| Leadership project photo gallery |
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Photo Gallery: 2023 HS leadership projects will appear here on the public site.
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Early Childhood Education's Play program
Organizing and running a play program on campus is one practicum for second-year early childhood education students. It's been part of the program for four decades.
| Putting together a play program plus a photo gallery |
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Community children are invited and students do every from publicizing the program and providing information to parents, and from designing and decorating the play space to planning snacks and cleaning up. Play is a natural fit as they have courses with play in the title including Observation and Play and Outdoor and Nature Play. Play isn't just fun, it's also a way to learn. Students put what they've learned in courses such as in art, music, movement, literacy, math and science experiences as well professionalism when they deal with parents. Photo Gallery: Play Program will appear here on the public site.
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The play program is one of many activities early childhood education students, may undertake.
| Other learning in action activities |
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During the semester, students have opportunities to:
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Proof is in the practicum
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Twice a year in Human Services |
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Both in-person and online students require work-integrated learning experiences to successfully complete their programs. Field placements are created in a variety of locations from Vermilion to across the country and even international locations. We have partnerships in 200+ settings. Below is a list of possibilities:
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| Educational assistant |
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While the program courses are all online, practicums aren't. Educational assistant practicums aren't limited to schools. |
| Child and youth care counsellor |
| A program for homeless teens, an in-school wellness program and a youth justice centre are among the places CYCC students have done their practicums. |
| American Sign Language |
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Our American Sign Language (ASK) and Deaf Studies students master skills before moving on to the next course. Since their courses are based at the Alberta School for the Deaf in Edmonton, they are immersed in Deaf culture and have plenty of scope to practice their ASL skills.
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| Positivi-trees |
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While students learned resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, a little positivity helped pushing through the difficulties. Human Services students created positivi-trees with support messages. The trees were sent up in high traffic corridors. All students were encouraged to grab an affirmation. |
