Field Instructor Quick Guide

Online Master of Social Work at Cleveland State University

Thank you for becoming a Field Instructor for our Master of Social Work students at Cleveland State University. The success of our program depends on the dedication of social workers such as yourself who are interested in contributing to our students’ educational process.

This guide provides baseline information about field placement. There are also frequently asked questions to help answer any questions you may have. However, please feel free to reach out to your student’s CSU Faculty Advisor or Derrick Hopperton, MSW, LISW-S (Director of Field Education at d.hopperton@csuohio.edu if you have any additional questions.

You can also review the comprehensive Field Instructor Guide.

FIELD INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

Field Instructor Role

A Field Instructor is an experienced social worker who agrees to train students in the field using a variety of skills and education tools. They serve as role models, showing professional behavior, and appropriate actions, and behaviors.

The Field Instructor is the student’s primary field learning resource and the agency’s representative to the program.

As a Field Instructor, you will engage in multiple roles, such as:

Teacher
Coach
Leader/Influencer
Facilitator/Socialization agent
Evaluator
Protector
Role Model

Field Instructor Responsibilities

As a Field Instructor, you will also have several responsibilities:

Participate in orientation and training activities for new Field Instructors.
Orient the student to the agency and staff.
Develop and implement a student learning contract in collaboration with the student during the first three weeks of field experience. The contract specifies learning experiences that will help the student achieve their learning objectives and field education requirements.
Schedule weekly in-person supervisory sessions with the student for a minimum of one hour.
Provide appropriate activities for the student to complete incremental tasks that achieve the student’s objectives and offer a broad range of agency experience.
Review regularly the student’s work and time accrual, maintain an ongoing evaluation of the student’s progress through Taskstream, and complete evaluations of the student at the end of each semester - including a recommended grade.
Support the student’s initiative in gaining access to other learning experiences and resources in the agency and professional community when needed.
Collaborate with the Faculty Liaison in the preparation, review, and evaluation of the field experience.
Inform the Faculty Liaison promptly of any problems in the field placement and, when necessary, develop a plan of remedial action with the Faculty Liaison and the student.
Provide information to the Field Education Director to assist in the future use of the agency as a placement site, including the Field Instructor’s interest in continuing service as a Field Instructor.

Student Responsibilities

Students also have responsibilities to ensure a successful field experience:

Arrive on time and take breaks at an appropriate time.
Review personal goals for the field placement experience with the Field Instructor, and revise if needed.
Determine an appropriate work schedule and complete field placement dates as scheduled (dates and hours selected must not conflict with classes).
Demonstrate an attitude of cooperation and willingness to learn.
Establish rapport with clients and families.
Work as a team member.
Demonstrate effective communication with clients, staff members, and the Field Instructor.
Follow all site regulations and guidelines for practice.
Immediately report any adverse events or outcomes to the Field Instructor.
Seek new learning experiences and request help when needed.
Accept guidance and suggestions with a positive attitude.
Improve in skills, knowledge, and understanding of the professional social worker role.
Notify the instructor, faculty, and Field Instructor of emergency changes in schedule.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION BEFORE THE FIRST DAY

It is important to cover the following items with the student prior to the start of field placement or during your first meeting:

Field placement shift schedule
Required dress code based on student handbook and site policy
Parking policy
ID badge
Computer access/training
Expectations regarding timeliness, professionalism, preparedness, etc.
Absence policy and expectations
Current skill level and position in course progression
Objectives and goals (course and field placement objectives will be provided by the social work faculty to guide the student’s field placement experience)

FIELD PLACEMENT PREPARATION

Orientation Process

Each organization may differ regarding the orientation process for social work students. Please coordinate with the faculty and agency to ensure proper student orientation. On the first day of the placement experience, students need to be oriented by the Field Instructors to the important site areas.

Necessary Documentation

All documentation needed for Field Instructors will be handled by either the site or administration office at Cleveland State University. We recommend Field Instructors check their email frequently to ensure further documentation or information is not needed.

Setting Expectations, Goals and Objectives

Course and field placement objectives will be provided by the social work faculty and should guide the student’s experience.

At the beginning of the field placement experience, the student and Field Instructors should sit down and discuss the objectives. The Field Instructors should also inquire about other goals or objectives the student has for their field placement experience. This information helps the Field Instructor plan and provide learning opportunities and student-specific instruction.

Field Instructors should also be aware of students’ current skills and knowledge base as it pertains to the social worker setting. Using the program plan of study and previous objectives, Field Instructors can gain an understanding of the skills and experiences the students are already equipped with.

FORMATIVE EVALUATION PROCESS

A crucial role of the Field Instructor is being an evaluator. On the first day of the field placement experience, explain to the students that feedback will be provided often throughout. Opportunities for feedback include, but are not limited to, the weekly required supervision meeting between the student and Field Instructor, as well as the semester evaluations through Taskstream.

FORMS AND PLANNING RESOURCES

MSW CURRICULUM

This is the first of two generalist practicums. Students complete 200 hours of field placement in their assigned setting under the supervision of their field instructors. The generalist practicum provides students with the opportunity to develop competencies in generalist social work practice. Students integrate and apply the knowledge, values and skills developed in their coursework to develop generalist social work competencies for engaging, assessing and intervening with individuals, families and groups in generalist practice settings. The generalist field practicum is systematically designed, supervised and coordinated. Students are evaluated on criteria by which they demonstrate generalist social work competencies. Corequisite: SWK 505.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

How do I access Student Logs?

Go to login.taskstream.com and log in with your assigned username and password.
Click the Reviewer tab and select the appropriate School of Social Work DRF Program link.
Click the Continue button that appears on the following screen.
Click the appropriate program title to view the list of feedback requests made by your student.

How do I review student self-assessments within Taskstream?

Click on the Evaluator tab on your home page (top middle).
Go into the box your student is in: BSW Field Practicum, MSW Generalist Field Practicum, MSW Advanced Field Practicum Generalist, or MSW Clinical Field Practicum.
Click Evaluation Required on the box then the yellow Evaluate button then Score Work on top left.
The Field Instructor Evaluation should now be open for you to work in. When you are finished, click Submit as Final and Release Now and then click Submit.

Why is it telling me I am in preview mode?

This means your student requested comments on their student self-assessment from you or you are not in the Evaluator tab. The student needs to click Submit Work to submit their student self-assessment to you. Then you can go in as an evaluator and score their work and complete the evaluation.

When I click on the Evaluator tab and then click on my student’s DRF Box, why is there no work to evaluate?

This means your student requested comments on their student self-assessment from you, instead of clicking Submit Work. The student needs to click Submit Work to submit their student self-assessment to you. Then you can go in as an evaluator and score their work and complete the evaluation.