INFO-B 584 Guidelines

INFO-B 584 is designed to provide students with a hands-on learning experience that complements their academic coursework. By the end of the course, students are expected to have accomplished the following:

• Develop personal health informatics practicum goals and objectives that reflect their learning needs. Students should schedule a faculty contact for discussion of their goals and objectives by the end of the first week of the semester.
• Identify a potential site for their practicum and select a preceptor in consultation with course faculty. The selection of the preceptor should be based on the student’s informatics practicum goals and objectives.
• Schedule and complete an interview with the potential preceptor as agreed upon by the course faculty.
• Negotiate a final learning contract with the preceptor that prioritizes objectives, approximates the number of hours needed to complete each objective, and identifies the types of resources the student will need from the preceptor or agency for each objective. The learning contract should also specify the method of evaluation for each objective.
• Participate in weekly online informatics practicum seminar discussions.
• Complete a project in collaboration with the preceptor, including a formal presentation as part of the practicum seminar and written analysis of the project.
• Implement and complete the student learning contract, including passing evaluation by the preceptor and faculty.
• Notify course faculty of any problems that arise during the practicum related to the completion of learning goals, with possible solutions or alternatives.

Through these expectations, students will gain practical experience and develop the skills necessary to succeed in the field of health informatics.

As a faculty member in the practicum course for health informatics at the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering in Indianapolis, you play an essential role in guiding and supporting students throughout their learning experience. Your expectations for the course include:

• Reviewing and discussing the initial goals and objectives of students and providing guidance on potential practicum placement sites.
• Providing students and preceptors with the syllabus and role expectation information throughout the practicum semester.
• Assisting in informatics practicum placements in conjunction with students as necessary and verifying site contracts if appropriate.
• Reviewing learning contracts and objectives during the first week of the informatics practicum semester.
• Facilitating seminars with students during the semester and maintaining contact with the preceptor to monitor student progress and visiting sites as much as possible.
• Problem-solving student/preceptor issues as appropriate and identifying formal online presentation dates and formats.
• Collecting and reviewing final student projects and evaluation forms from preceptors.

By fulfilling these expectations, faculty members can ensure that students are receiving the necessary support and guidance to succeed in their practicum experience, while also maintaining a high standard of quality and consistency across all aspects of the course.

As a preceptor for INFO-B 584 practicum students, your role is critical in ensuring that students gain valuable practical experience and achieve their learning objectives. To make the most of this opportunity, we ask that you review the following expectations:

• Interview the potential student preceptor and review the student’s goals and objectives. Please work with the student to revise these goals to ensure that they are in line with the needs, capabilities, and constraints of your organization.
• Negotiate the type of activity you will provide for the student concerning each objective. This may include discussions of projects or roles, teaching or analysis, coordination to direct them to proper resources, or supervision in terms of approving or guiding the student’s work.
• Negotiate the evaluation method for each objective. This may include regular discussions with the preceptor, formal presentations to the group, written reports, or other methods.
• Complete a written learning contract with the student.
• Serve as a role model, resource, and guide for learning experiences for the student.
• Negotiate the student’s schedule for completion of the practicum.
• Evaluate the student and provide ongoing feedback on their progress towards completion of learning objectives.
• Communicate with course faculty regarding the student’s performance during the practicum.
• Notify course faculty of any problems or concerns during the practicum.
• Provide a written grade of Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory for each student objective. If organizational barriers have prevented the student from completing one or more objectives, please provide comments to that effect.
• Complete preceptor’s evaluation forms and return them to course faculty.

We appreciate your willingness to serve as a preceptor for our INFO-B 584 practicum students and your commitment to ensuring that they gain valuable practical experience.