Submitted by Chris Barthold on Sun, 11/15/2009 - 07:05
Posted in
Dear Student and Colleague,
>
> I'm contacting you today to let you know about a
> unique opportunity to assist in the dissemination of
> behavior analysis around the world. The Association
> for Behavior Analysis International, in conjunction
> with the Jordan University of Science and Technology
> (JUST), is soliciting applications for practicum
> instructor positions for Spring 2010. As a practicum
> instructor, you and a colleague would co-teach and
> supervise 10-20 students at practicum sites located
> in Jordan over an 8-week period. There are currently
> two practicum courses tentatively scheduled for the
> Spring 2010 semester, which means we are soliciting
> applications for 4 instructors (2 for each course).
> One practicum course will focus on behavioral
> assessments and the other will focus on behavior
> reduction interventions. Students enrolled in these
> practica will have already had a course in Behavior
> Assessment or Behavioral Interventions,
> respectively. We currently have two practicum sites
> set up with the Autism Academy of Jordan in Amman
> (population of children and young adults) and we are
> interested in setting up a new site in the King
> Abdullah Hospital (population of children and
> adults) located within the JUST campus. Where each
> practicum will take place is yet to be determined,
> however, instructors will be accompanied by an ABAI
> Program Coordinator upon arrival to ensure that they
> are settled in smoothly.
>
> The Jordan University of Science and Technology
> Masters Degree Program in Applied Behavior Health
> Analysis program was started as a collaborative
> effort between the Association for Behavior Analysis
> International (ABAI) and JUST in 2005 as a result of
> an ABAI international delegation to Jordan. In 2007,
> the program admitted the first cohort of students
> and today there are about 35 students/graduates
> spanning across 3 cohorts. The program is operated
> out of JUST within the Department of Nursing and Dr.
> Linda J. Hayes and I volunteer as the ABAI
> Coordinators for the program. Since its inception
> the program has been fortunate enough to have
> enlisted several esteemed instructors teach courses.
> Some of these instructors include: Michele Bishop,
> Michael Dorsey, Mitch Fryling, Linda J. Hayes,
> Martha Hubner, Marianne Jackson, Kate Kellum,
> Barbara Kohlenberg, Kennon A. Lattal, Richard
> Malott, M. Jackson Marr, N. Joseph Rodrigues,
> Sigurdur Sigurdsson, and W. Larry Williams.
>
> The role of the ABAI Coordinators is to find
> instructors for the program and provide them with
> information about the program. Instructor's
> contracts with the program are through JUST. Flights
> to Jordan are usually purchased by JUST once we give
> them the instructor's itinerary. However, sometimes
> instructors would like to book their own tickets if
> they wish to travel elsewhere on their way to
> Jordan. In these situations, the instructor is
> reimbursed for the value of a direct flight to
> Jordan and the instructor pays the difference out of
> pocket. For example, if an instructor wished to
> travel and stay in Paris for a few weeks before
> going to Jordan then they may have to a pay a little
> extra for the airfare to arrange that stopover. The
> honorarium for the course is $3,000 USD per course.
> This amount is whittled down a little with
> international bank transfer fees and Jordanian taxes
> so in the end it is more in the ballpark of $2,750
> USD. In addition, to this fee, instructors are also
> provided with free faculty housing. Housing is on
> the JUST campus and includes wired internet, a
> kitchenette (there is a small store near the
> housing), private bathroom, TV, and other basic
> amenities. In addition, JUST provides instructors
> with a very good free mid-day meal at the University
> on the days they teach. The mid-day meal in Jordan
> is the main meal of the day Finally, JUST also
> arranges for instructors to be taken on a trip of
> their choice to a historic site (e.g. Petra, Umm
> Qais, Jerash, Dead Sea) within the country.
>
> We realize that most of you are students and
> therefore are likely planning to be enrolled in
> classes during the Spring 2010 semester. Pursuing
> this opportunity while enrolled as a student can be
> a bit difficult. However, given your advisor's
> permission, your program's flexibility, and your
> current status it may still be possible for you to
> complete some of your program requirements while you
> are in Jordan or to take a semester off to avail
> yourself of this opportunity. In the past students
> have been able to work this out with their advisor.
> If you or your advisor would like to discuss some of
> the options previous students have taken, please
> email me at erickdubuque@yahoo.com.
>
> If you have a Master's degree in behavior analytic
> psychology or special education, relevant applied
> experience, and are interested in this opportunity
> please email Erick Dubuque (erickdubuque@yahoo.com)
> and include the following information in your
> application:
> * An updated vita
> * If available, the name of someone with whom you
> would like to co-instruct
> * Transcripts
> * A statement of permission from your advisor (if
> you are enrolled as a student)
> * Statement of interest specific to the practicum
> you are interested in instructing. In this
> statement you should talk about why you are
> qualified to teach an assessment practicum
> course, behavior reduction practicum course, or
> both.
> There are a lot more details I could share about
> this unique experience, however, at this point I
> think I've given enough information to you for you
> to think about. If you have any further questions
> please don't hesitate to contact me. Even if you are
> not interested in this opportunity please pass on
> this information to others you know who might
> benefit from this experience. Finally, although this
> email has been tailored specifically to a student
> audience, this experience is not limited to only
> students. Behavior analytic scientist practitioners
> who meet the requirements listed above may also be
> taken under consideration for this experience.
>
> Having been fortunate enough to teach a practicum
> course in Jordan myself, I have to say I had a
> wonderful experience, both personally and
> professionally, and I hope you will also have an
> opportunity to experience the same.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Erick
>
> Erick Dubuque, M.A., BCBA
> Behavior Analysis Program
> Department of Psychology / 296
> University of Nevada, Reno
> Reno, NV 89557
