Integrating Virtual and Real Worlds: Using an Online Practicum to Create Hands-on Learning Capstone Experiences

This poster presents the findings from implementing an online practicum capstone for the Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies (MSIS) degree at Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA. This field-based experience assists students as they transition into new jobs in the workplace. Students come from all walks of life with a variety of learning styles. In order to address the changing demographic in graduate schools across the United States and beyond, we must re-examine the ways in which students transform coursework into real-world experience. In order to address the changing demographic in graduate schools, we must re-examine the ways in which students transform coursework into real-world experience. In the poster presentation, we will illustrate how the MSIS online practicum program creates a learning environment where students can transform their coursework into meaningful experiences relevant to their success in the program and beyond in the workplace. Suggestions for implementation and future research will also be provided. The target audience of this session is anyone with an interest in creating an online practicum program for students, including faculty, program planners, administrators, and faculty developers. The poster discussion will include methods and strategies from the field of adult education in conjunction with best-practices for creating unique learning experiences through online supported practicum programs. These programs can be utilized in order to meet the social, emotional, and academic learning needs of graduate learners. We expect conference participants to stop by and preview our poster presentation and engage with us in meaningful discussion about our online-based practicum program. The display will contain the following information and talking points divided into these categories: 1. The need for an online-based practicum program 2. Supportive literature 3. Our process used for implementing the online-based practicum program 4. Evidence of effectiveness 5. Next steps in expanding the online-based practicum program that also supports recruiting of new students to the program We plan to hold several individual and small-group discussions as well as leave the poster on display.