Learning through Meaning Making: Applying Job Crafting in Field Learning

ABSTRACT

Job crafting makes people’s work rewarding through meaning making. This article discusses the ways in which a field director may use job crafting to address a common challenge in field education. Field placements are based on various institutional expectations; however, many students have preconceived notions of what social work and social work education should be, and they complain that their placements are “not clinical ” enough. Through the application of job crafting, students can reframe their field learning experiences in a meaningful way. Using the case study method, this article demonstrates one way to support MSW students, highlighting common challenges and practices at a large public northeastern university.

KEYWORDS:

• field education
• field director
• social work students
• meaning making
• job crafting

Acknowledgement

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Edward Alessi for his support and advice with this manuscript.