SOWK 670 Advanced Generalist Field Experience and Seminar

Advanced Field Experience and Seminar provides students with the opportunity to perform in the role of a social work practitioner under the supervision of an experienced master’s level social worker. Students are engaged in a minimum of 600 field hours performing the duties of a social worker. Additionally, students meet for two hours weekly to discuss the theoretical and conceptual concepts learned in the classroom with the practical experiences in field placement. The course emphasizes the health and safety of the social work student.

Field education is a principal component of the instruction and training students receive to prepare them for a professional career in social work. While receiving supervised practice experience in an agency setting, students will attend a seminar class that offers the opportunity to process their field experiences and engage in further learning. The integration of classroom and field activities provides students with a unique and comprehensive learning experience to support their development as professional social workers.

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

(CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I; Competencies: 1-9; Dimensions: Knowledge, Values, Cognitive & Affective Processes)

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview. 

(CLO: A; Competency 1; Dimensions: Knowledge)

Timesheet Assignments (16)

The student will document the hours completed during his/her field experience by completing the Field Experience Time Sheet each week within his/her CORE account. The student must log into his/her CORE account in order to document his/her Field encounters. The student must report all activities including the required 1 hour of supervision each week.

This form requires the Agency Task Supervisor’s “approval” within CORE. The hours must be completed BEFORE they are documented within CORE. CORE will provide the student with a copy of all completed forms.

Supervisors will receive the Timesheet form once submitted via CORE and will be able to review them to approve or deny. Timesheets are due at the end of each module and must include hours completed during the prior module, including meetings with the student’s external supervisor.

(CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I; Competencies 1-9; Dimensions: Knowledge, Values, Skills, Cognitive & Affective Processes)

Supervisory Agenda Assignments (16)

The student will prepare a minimum of three agenda items prior to the scheduled supervisory meeting with their Field Instructor. Items that can be included can relate to ethical decision-making, problem-solving, interactions with clients, policy, practice, learning objectives from the previous supervision, and/or specific questions/topics about field experience that require additional discussion. This form requires the signature of the Agency Task Supervisor or External Field Instructor if applicable.

The student must bring a copy of this agenda to each supervision meeting with the top portion completed. The Field Instructor may add to the agenda items as appropriate. The student will complete the remaining sections of the form based on the discussion that occurs during the meeting. Be sure any writing is legible if the student choose to hand write their responses within the Supervisory Agenda form.

At the end of the meeting, the student and their Field Instructor will sign the form. Be aware that if there are components of the Supervisory Agenda form that are not completed appropriately, the student will be asked to address the concerns and resubmit the form. The student will not receive points for an agenda that is submitted without all appropriate signatures.

(CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I; Competencies 1-9; Dimensions: Knowledge, Values, Skills, Cognitive & Affective Processes)

Learning Contract Assignment

The student will complete his/her Learning Contract Assignment that details key learning goals and objectives to achieve during field experience.

The student must log into his/her CORE account to complete the Learning Contract. This Learning Contract should be completed with the support of the Field Instructor and, if applicable, the Agency Task Supervisor. A Learning Contract Meeting should be scheduled that includes a completed Learning Contract with the Field Faculty Liasion, Field Instructor, and Agency Task Supervisor (if applicable) to review the document and planned tasks for your Field Experience.

Instructions are placed and indicated within CORE for the Learning Contract and address all nine competencies per the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

(CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I; Competencies 1-9; Dimensions: Knowledge, Values, Skills, Cognitive & Affective Processes)

Journal Assignments (5)

The purpose of the Journal Assignments is to reflect on the field activities the student participated in and how they observed and applied the core competencies. The student will engage in self-assessment and self-correction.

The student will complete Journal Assignments while completing their field internship hours. Each provided Journal Template prompt must be answered in 2-3 paragraphs reflecting on what the student learned in their field experience, feelings experienced, something they would do differently, and the application of core competencies. Please consult previous textbooks and scholarly articles to support efforts to integrate theory into practice. Textbooks and any other sources used must be documented and properly cited.

(CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I; Competencies 1-9; Dimensions: Knowledge, Values, Skills, Cognitive & Affective Processes)

Case Presentation Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to provide the student an opportunity to integrate theory into practice, develop a case presentation specific to a client and/or client system that they are working in, and facilitate a discussion to identify strengths, areas of growth, interventions, and discussion questions to elicit feedback from classmates.

Using the Case Presentation Template as a guide, the student will develop a PowerPoint Presentation to identify the agency the student is working in, the reason for referral, genogram/ecogram, an assessment of strengths and needs, interventions, and discussion questions. The case overview should take approximately 10-15 minutes and the discussion questions should take about 15-20 minutes.

(CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I; Competencies 1-9; Dimensions: Knowledge, Values, Skills, Cognitive & Affective Processes)

Process Recording Assignment

The student will complete a process recording, review the assignment with their Field Instructor in supervision, and then present it to their peers in seminar.

Process recording provides students with the opportunity to examine their work on multiple levels, and gives field instructors a means with which to actively guide their students and assess their work. It is a detailed account and analysis of a social work contact, allowing access to an exchange between the student and the client or client system. Process recording also provides an excellent opportunity to examine a student’s skills and technique, capacity for self-awareness, and ability to put the theories being learned in the classroom into practice.

(CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I; Competencies 1-9; Dimensions: Knowledge, Values, Skills, Cognitive & Affective Processes)

Mid-Semester Evaluation Assignment

The Mid-Semester Evaluation Assignment will assess student performance, learning experiences, and the role of supervision and instruction during placement. This meeting will allow for an in-depth discussion on areas of strength and growth.

First, the student will take the lead in contacting their Faculty Field Liaison, Field Instructor, and Agency Task Supervisor to schedule the Mid-Semester Evaluation Meeting at a time that is agreeable to all parties. For agencies in the Central Virginia Area, the meeting can take place on-site or via a video chat platform. For agencies Outside of the Central Virginia Area, the meeting will take place via a video chat platform.

Next, the student will meet with the Agency Task Supervisor and Field Instructor prior to the scheduled Mid-Semestert Evaluation to fill out the Mid-Semester Evaluation Template. This is a time for the student and their supervisors to reflect on what the student has learned and accomplished, as well as any areas of growth.

(CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I; Competencies 1-9; Dimensions: Knowledge, Values, Skills, Cognitive & Affective Processes)

Final Evaluation: Self-Assessment Assignment

The Final Evaluation: Self-Assessment Assignment is a highly valuable exercise in each student’s education. It provides an opportunity for self-reflection, critical thinking, and personal/professional development. 

The student will complete a self-evaluation, identifying both strengths and areas for future development. Each area of the evaluation will be completed in detail.

The Faculty Field Liaison will review the evaluation and will assign a grade based upon this evaluation. 

(CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I; Competencies 1-9; Dimensions: Knowledge, Values, Skills, Cognitive & Affective Processes)

Final Evaluation: Supervisor Assessment Assignment

The Final Evaluation: Supervisor Assessment Assignment is a highly valuable exercise in each student’s education.  It provides critical feedback to individual students to assist in their development as professionals.  It also provides helpful information for the Social Work Department as we serve those students individually and seek to continually improve our program content and methods to equip our students to become excellent compassionate social workers.

Meeting: The Agency Task Supervisor and Field Instructor will meet (together or separately) with the student in person (or by MS Teams) to provide feedback on his/her performance and discuss the student’s progress on learning contract goals, highlighting both strengths and areas for improvement as well as recommendations for further development.

Evaluation: Final Assignment: The Agency Task Supervisor (ATS) and Field Instructor (FI) will collaborate and complete a final field evaluation to assess the student’s demonstration of practice behaviors associated with each of the core competencies identified by the Council on Social Work Education as essential to generalist social work practice.

The Faculty Field Liaison will review the evaluation, participate in the discussion as needed, and will assign a grade based upon this evaluation. Upon supervisor completion of the Evaluation: Final Template, the student will submit it to the course.

To continue to grow in the field of Social Work, the student will need to consistently hone his/her skills, identify areas of growth, and develop plans to consistently provide high-quality professional services as a Generalist Social Work practitioner. 

Based on the feedback discussed with the student’s supervisors as a part of the Final Evaluation: Supervisor Assignment, the student will develop a plan using the Professional Development Plan Template, found in the Professional Development Plan Assignment in this Module’s Apply section, to address areas of growth in preparation for the Advanced Generalist Field Experience.

The student will review the Final Evaluation: Self-Assessment Assignment and Final Evaluation: Supervisor Assessment Assignment, then list at least 2 competency areas with corresponding practice behaviors that the student would like to strengthen before his/her next Field Experience. The student will develop SMART goals to show how the he/she will improve on the items that were noted. The goals might include reading more journal articles on practice areas, gaining more professional or volunteer experience, talking with a spiritual mentor, role-playing with a friend, etc. In other words, the student will write down some specific tasks that he/she will do to further develop professionally.

(CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I; Competencies 1-9; Dimensions: Knowledge, Values, Skills, Cognitive & Affective Processes)

Quizzes: Seminar Participation (14)

The student will meet weekly (online or in person) with his or her instructor (Faculty Field Liaison) and peers. (Please note attendance policy, as penalties for missing this class may apply.) The student will share his or her field experiences during the seminar and discuss how these experiences relate to the theories and practices learned in social work courses. The student is expected to be on time, attend the entire session, and actively participate in order to earn full points. An active participant is one who attends the synchronous seminar sessions, actively listens, reacts to information shared, asks pertinent questions, shows signs of understanding, shares relevant insights, and contributes to the general learning of the class. The student should come to class prepared to share their field experience and how they are applying what they learned in the classroom in their field placement. To help facilitate the discussion, the student should have the NASW Code of Ethics Document and the LU Social Work Competencies and Practice Behaviors Document available during the seminar. Culturally diverse perspectives are welcome. These quizzes will contain 3 true/false and essay questions. The student will have unlimited time and unlimited attempts to complete the quizzes.

(CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I; Competencies 1-9; Dimensions: Knowledge, Values, Skills, Cognitive & Affective Processes)

Quiz: Field Orientation Training

Quiz: Learning Contract

Quiz: Student Evaluation of Agency and Seminar