Abstract
Practicum, also known as field education, is widely recognized as the signature pedagogy in social work education. Practicum is the site where students learn to integrate and apply the values, knowledge, complex practices and skills of the social work profession. Despite its importance, field education is in crisis. There is an urgent need for social work education programs to re-vision how the profession prepares the next generation of social workers. This paper discusses the Transforming the Field Education Landscape (TFEL) partnership that aims to integrate research and practice in the preparation of the next generation of social workers by developing partnered research training initiatives that enhance trainee research practice knowledge and applied skill development. The partnership is structured in three streams: (1) Digital Storytelling, (2) Development of Sustainable Field Education Models and (3) Applied Practice Research. Since 2019, a partnership approach has been adopted to transform social work field education through multi-partner engagement, from a crisis model to sustainable models. This paper shares the outcomes of the TFEL partnerships’s program, including research results from 104 interviews, 31 focus group discussions (n=99) and 9 roundtable sessions (n=218) on promising, wise, and innovative practices. The findings illustrate pathways to more sustainable models of field education that include 1) community-engaged placements, 2) field supervision, 3) partnerships and collaboration, 4) flexibility, 5) using technology, 6) macro-level placements, 7) Indigenous-centered practices, and 8) equity, diversity and inclusion. This partnership (2019-2026) is funded by a SSHRC partnership grant.
Presenters
Julie L. DroletProfessor, Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Vectors of Society and Culture
KEYWORDS
Field Education, Partnerships, Training, Mentorship, Innovation
