SOWK 575 Generalist Field Experience and Seminar A

Generalist Field Experience and Seminar A 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. This is the first in a sequence of 2 courses. Students are engaged in a minimum of 200 field hours in a setting 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 the student receives to prepare him or her for a professional career in social work. While receiving supervised practice experience in an agency setting, the student will attend a seminar class that offers the opportunity to process his/her field experiences and engage in further learning. The integration of classroom and field activities provides the student with a unique and comprehensive learning experience to support the student’s development as a professional social worker.

Readings and lecture presentations

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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)

The student will document the hours completed during his/her field experience by completing the Hours Tracking Assignment in CORE each week. The student must document all activities including the required one hour of supervision each week. The Hours Tracking will document all activities that the student completes in the Field each module. For each day, describe the activities accomplished, place them in the category they best fit with, and include the hour(s) for that specific category. The ATS will be prompted to approve the hours in CORE each week as they are submitted. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, Competencies 1-9 Dimensions: Knowledge, Values, Skills, Cognitive & Affective Processes)

The student will prepare a minimum of three agenda items prior to the scheduled supervisory meeting with his/her 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. The student will submit the points of discussion and the outcomes of the supervisory session in his/her CORE account. The weekly submission will be reviewed by the Field Faculty for grading and feedback. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J Competencies 1-9 Dimensions: Knowledge, Values, Skills, Cognitive & Affective Processes)

The student will complete four Journal Assignments while completing his/her field internship hours. Each provided Journal Template must be answered in 2-3 paragraphs reflecting on what has been learned during field experience, feelings experienced, something the student would do differently, and the application of core competencies. The student should consult previous textbooks and scholarly articles to support his/her 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, J Competencies 1-9 Dimensions: Knowledge, Values, Skills, Cognitive & Affective Processes)

Agency Orientation Checklist Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to ensure that the student is provided a thorough orientation to the agency where he/she will be completing his/her field experience. The student will review and submit the Agency Orientation Checklist within CORE. The student must ensure that he/she and his/her Agency Task Supervisor review all items. The student will follow instructions within CORE that allows him/her and his/her ATS to complete document fully. (CLO: A, Competency 1 Dimensions: Knowledge)

The student will complete the Learning Contract Assignment in an effort to detail key learning goals and objectives to achieve during the field experience. Using CORE, the student will complete the Learning Contract Assignment with support from his/her Field Instructor and Agency Task Supervisor. The Learning Contract will serve as a guide for what the student should accomplish during field experience. Once the Learning Contract Template has been filled out, the student should schedule a Learning Contract Meeting with his/her Field Instructor, Agency Task Supervisor, and Faculty Field Liaison to review and ensure that the student will be able to meet the requirements of the Learning Contract. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J Competencies 1-9 Dimensions: Knowledge, Values, Skills, Cognitive & Affective Processes)

Agency Presentation – Module 13 Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to provide the student an opportunity to integrate theory into practice, develop an agency presentation specific to the agency/client system that he/she is working in, and facilitate a discussion to identify strengths, areas of growth, interventions, and discussion questions to elicit feedback from classmates. Using the Agency Presentation Outline as a guide, the student will develop a PowerPoint Presentation to identify the agency he/she is working in, discussing its mission, services, and client population. The agency overview should take approximately 10-15 minutes and the discussion questions should take about 10-15 minutes. The PowerPoint design should follow best-practice guidelines; colorful, easy to read, and a balance of information and pictures or graphics, etc. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J Competencies 1-9 Dimensions: Knowledge, Values, Skills, Cognitive & Affective Processes)

The Mid-Placement 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 his/her Faculty Field Liaison, Field Instructor, and Agency Task Supervisor to schedule the Mid-Placement Evaluation Meeting at a time that is agreeable to all parties. For agencies in the Central Virginia area, the meeting will take place on-site. For agencies outside of Central Virginia, the meeting will take place by phone or MS Teams – please link with Field Faculty to coordinate this meeting.

Next, the student will meet with his/her Agency Task Supervisor and Field Instructor prior to the scheduled Mid-Placement Evaluation to fill out the Mid-Placement Evaluation Template. This is a time for the student and his/her 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, J Competencies 1-9 Dimensions: Knowledge, Values, Skills, Cognitive & Affective Processes)

The student will meet weekly for the first 14 weeks of the semester (online or in person) with his or her instructor and peers (please note the 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 his or her field experience and how the student is applying what he or she learned in the classroom in his or her 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, J  Competencies 1-9 Dimensions: Knowledge, Values, Skills, Cognitive & Affective Processes)

The student will complete the Quiz: Field Orientation Training after the student, the student’s Agency Task Supervisor, and Field Instructor have participated in the virtual Field Orientation Training or have watched the accompanying Field Orientation Training videos. The quiz has unlimited time and attempts. (CLO: A, Competency 1 Dimensions: Knowledge)

This quiz is to confirm that the student has reviewed the Learning Contract Template with his/her Agency Task Supervisor and Field Instructor and has scheduled a meeting with these two individuals and his/her Faculty Field Liaison. The quiz has unlimited time and attempts. (CLO: A, Competency 1 Dimensions: Knowledge)