Discovery Certificate Course Syllabus Summer 2013

Course Dates: June 3 – August 23, 2013 Location: Online – Adobe Connect with community-based experiential component Instructors: Nancy Boutot (Lead TA Coordinator); Tammy Jorgensen Smith, Ph.D., CRC E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

Course Description:

The Discovery Certificate Course is a 12-week intensive training that combines online learning with a community-based experiential component involving direct work with a job seeker. The online component will be offered through six (6) on-demand, web-based learning modules and a series of scheduled group technical assistance webinars.

An experiential component will be paired with the course content so that participants can immediately apply what they are learning with a real job seeker. This enhances comprehension and allows for technical assistance from the instructor(s) as course participants work with a job seeker to complete the Discovery process and develop a viable vocational profile. Job seekers for the experiential component of the course will be referred to course participants from their local Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) office.

Course Objectives:

Participants will: 1. Gain an understanding of the customized employment process. 2. Learn about Discovery, a component of the customized employment process, and gain practical experience through applying skills learned with a job seeker. 3. Develop a viable vocational profile – the product of the Discovery process. 4. Receive individual and group technical assistance throughout the course and process. 5. Learn next steps for utilizing what was learned through Discovery to assist the job seeker to achieve a competitive, integrated employment outcome.

Required Materials:

. Access to a computer (preferably less than 5 years old) with internet access . Flash software (free download) . Access to a telephone for audio capability . Discovery Manuals: (online access included in registration fee – link will be provided) o Discovery: Charting the Course to Employment o Profiles: Capturing the Information of Discovery

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Accommodations for Participants with Disabilities :

Please let the instructors know if you need an accommodation to participate in this course. Course Requirements:

. Pre and Post Course Survey – to assess knowledge, skills, capacity, perceptions, etc. . Quizzes – to assess content knowledge and conceptualization . Experiential Component – Participants will facilitate the Discovery process with a job seeker (within natural and community-based settings). Class topics will be applied and activities logged. Experiences will be shared in group technical assistance sessions. . Vocational Profile – product of Discovery process; a viable vocational profile will be completed as part of the course requirements . Discovery Logs – logs of Discovery activities will be recorded to identify activities completed and time spent on activities.

Attendance and Participation:

The six (6) web-modules that contain the course informational content are offered online and on-demand. You will be given at least one week to complete each web-module. Most of the content modules include a ten (10) question quiz to assess knowledge and conceptualization of material. You must score at least 80% on each quiz to gain access to the next module. You may retake the module if needed.

Course participants are expected to actively participate in all course activities, to communicate with the assigned technical assistance provider, and to participate in and contribute to the group technical assistance discussions.

The web-modules/course content will be completed during the first half of the class to provide the foundational information for completing the experiential component of the course. Individual and group technical assistance will be available throughout the course. An optional web-module (#7) will be available in early August to provide information on the next steps in the customized employment process. It is strongly advised that you complete the optional course module.

Course Policies :

. Please log in to the online group technical assistance sessions five (5) minutes early so that session can begin promptly. Be prepared to stay for the entire session. . If you are disconnected, please log back in as soon as possible. . A call-in number and passcode will be provided for the audio portion of the group technical assistance sessions. This will minimize technical difficulties with the audio. . Please utilize the mute function on your telephone when not speaking to minimize background noise.

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Right to Change Syllabus :

This is the first offering of the course in this format and new, relevant materials and processes and adjustments to the content may be required during the semester. If this is necessary, some components of this syllabus may change. However, any such changes will be announced. WEEK TOPIC ASSIGNMENTS Course Overview; Customized Employment; Complete Web-Module #1 June 3-7 Introduction to Discovery; Person-Centered TA providers assigned Planning; Discovery Logs Complete Web-Module #2 June 10-14 Overview of Discovery Meet & Greet call with TA providers Complete Web-Module #3 Steps to Discovery; Facilitating the Discovery Job seekers assigned; Work with Job Seeker June 17-21 Process to Develop Person-Centered Team; Complete Consent Form(s) Complete Web-Module #4 Conduct Initial Meeting with Job Seeker and Discovering and Capturing Information; June 24-28 Person-Centered Team; Explain Discovery Descriptive Writing Process; Roles and Responsibilities; Expectations Complete Web-Module #5 Developing the Profile Documents – Part I – Visit Job Seeker’s Home and Neighborhood; Profile Interview/Intake General Information; July 1-5 Complete Part I of Profile; Job Seeker/Family Benefits Planning and Assistance; Work Confirm Information is Complete/Accurate; Incentives Assess Need for Benefits Planning Complete Web-Module #6 Discovery with Job Seeker; Visit Home and Developing the Profile Documents – Part II – The Neighborhood; Routines; July 8-12 Discovery Profile Responsibilities/Chores; Supports; Etc.; Conversational Interviews; Begin Writing Part II of Profile Community Discovery – Familiar Activity Developing the Profile Documents – Part II – The July 15-19 (Where Job Seeker is at Best); Additional Discovery Profile (continued) Interviews; Write/Revise Part II of Profile Community Discovery - Novel Activity; Developing the Profile Documents – Part II – The July 22-26 Records Review; Write/Revise Part II of Discovery Profile (continued) Profile Translate Skills/Talents/Strengths into July 29– Developing the Profile Documents – Part III – Potential Employment Opportunities; August 2 Plan Preparation Develop List of Potential Employers; Write Part III of Profile August 5-9 The Customized Employment Team Meeting; DRAFT PROFILE DUE Visual Resume Development (August 7th by 5pm)

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Complete Optional Web-Module #7 Next steps: Job Development; Applying Learned August 12-16 Work on Profile/Corrections Skills and Building Capacity FINAL PROFILE DUE* August 19-23 Let’s All Go Do Discovery! Evaluation and Post Course Survey *The final draft of the profile is due by 5pm on August 23, 2013. Technical Assistance consultants will conduct a final review of profiles the last week in August. Participants who successfully complete all sections of the course will receive their course certificate in early September. The course instructor(s) will provide DVR with a list of certified providers.

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